Foster Care & Student Success
Foster Care & Student Success, housed in Texas Education Agency’s Division of Federal and State Education Policy maintains resources and information to advance the education of student's impacted by foster care. The resources and materials provide guidance related to the unique circumstances surrounding students who are in the foster care system and attend Texas public schools. In Texas, nearly 16,000 school-age students are in foster care at any given time.
The Foster Care & Student Success web content is divided into the following areas:
- School District Liaisons
- Laws and Guidance
- State Efforts
- Collaboration
- Child Protective Services
- Information and Resources
Foster Care & Student Success Resource Guide
TEA developed a premiere resource to support Texas schools in addressing the education of students in foster care: Texas Foster Care & Student Success Resource Guide (PDF). This guide is the product of collaboration with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families (Children's Commission). This e-guide and training manual contains a variety of key researched-based topics and calls attention to important matters related to the education of students in foster care. The guide promotes best practices and contains numerous tips, tools, resources and links to more information.
TEA desires that the guide be widely used and distributed! Please share with your districts, schools and networks. The guide is available in a variety of formats.
Guide Formats
You can download the complete resource guide below:
- The complete interactive foster care resource guide (PDF) is available or select individual chapters below.
- TEA’s Office of Publications has full color hard copies that you can order.
- A larger, hi-resolution digital PDF file is available. It is useful for producing high-quality copies for distribution. Email fostercareliaison@tea.texas.gov to request the guide in hi-resolution.
Individual chapter downloads are also available:
Foster Care & Student Success Resource Guide - Content Sections | ||
Section | Content | PDF size |
---|---|---|
Cover and Front matter | Preface | 913 KB |
Chapter 1 | Education & Students in Foster Care: An Overview | 631 KB |
Chapter 2 | Increasing Cross-System Awareness | 836 KB |
Chapter 3 | Building Cross-System Partnerships: Education, Child Welfare & Courts | 487 KB |
Chapter 4 | Foster Care Overview: Understanding the Foster Care System | 1.1 MB |
Chapter 5 | District Foster Care Liaisons: Responsibilities & Expectations | 315 KB |
Chapter 6 | Identifying Students & Maintaining Confidentiality: Key Considerations | 356 KB |
Chapter 7 | Enrollment 101 | 623 KB |
Chapter 8 | School Stability & Promoting Effective Transfers: Common Questions | 1.1 MB |
Chapter 9 | Education Decision Making, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) & Sharing Education Information with Child Welfare Stakeholders | 758 KB |
Chapter 10 | Additional School Provisions & Procedures | 893 KB |
Chapter 11 | The School Experience: Providing Student Support, Implementing Academic Supports and Interventions & Promoting High School Completion |
1.3 MB |
Chapter 12 | Students Eligible for or Receiving Special Education Services | 471 MB |
Chapter 13 | Transitioning Out of Foster Care and Post-Secondary Education Opportunities | 926 MB |
Endnotes | 135 KB | |
Appendices | 954 KB | |
References and Back matter | 160 KB |
Foster Care Education & Policy State Coordinator
512-463-9414
fostercareliaison@tea.texas.gov