JFABDA ©ADMISSION OF STUDENTS
IN FOSTER CARE
JFABDA ©This policy is intended to direct compliance with Arizona State Laws, Arizona Administrative Code, and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Foster Care provisions.
Purpose Statement
The implementation of this policy shall assure that:
A. Within five (5) days after a child enters foster care or if a child’s placement changes, the child, if appropriate, the child’s caseworker, the child’s parent, guardian, custodian, caregiver, or foster parent and representative from the local education agency or the child’s school of origin shall determine if it is in the child’s best interest to remain in the child’s school of origin;
B. Children in foster care remain enrolled in their school of origin for the duration of their time in care, unless a determination is made that it is not in such child’s best interest to remain in their school of origin, which decision shall be based on all factors relating to the child’s best interest, including consideration of the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement, among other factors listed in law (See list in JFABDA-R);
C. If it is determined that a change of educational placement is in the best interest of the child, the child shall be immediately enrolled in a new school, even if the child is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment or owes any outstanding fines or fees to the school of origin; however, the student may be required to provide their Notice to Providers document;
D. The enrolling school shall immediately contact the school last attended by any such child to obtain relevant academic and other records. Upon request for records for any such child from another school, every effort shall be made to provide records within two (2) business days.
E. In collaboration with the state or local Child Welfare Agency, transportation is provided to and from the school of origin or school of placement for the foster child as applicable and found in the law and Policy JFAA. In ensuring a child receives transportation to the educational institution determined to be in the child’s best interest, the Department of Child Safety may coordinate with the Department of Education and local education agencies and enter into necessary information sharing, data sharing and financial agreements.
F. The District will work with the Department of Child Safety (or tribal agency) to ensure that the provisions of ESSA relating to foster children are implemented, including assigning a District employee to serve as a Point of Contact (POC) to work in collaboration with the applicable child welfare agency and notify the Arizona Department of Education of the assigned POC.
Definitions
The term "children in foster care" means children who are under twenty-four (24) hour substitute care while placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the Child Welfare Agency (Department of Child Safety [DCS] or tribal) has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, childcare institutions, and pre-adoptive homes. A child is in foster care in accordance with this definition regardless of whether the foster care facility is licensed, and payments are made by the state, tribal or local agency for the care of the child, whether adoption subsidy payments are being made prior to the finalization of an adoption, or whether there is federal matching of any payments that are made. (45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a)) In Arizona, if DCS has received placement care and responsibility, then the child is in "foster care" even if the parent or guardian is permitted to live in the home of placement, such as a kinship home.
The term "school of origin" means the school in which a child is enrolled at the time of placement in foster care, including preschool. If a child’s foster care placement changes, the school of origin would then be considered the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of the placement change.
Point of Contact (POC) for Children
in Foster Care - Responsibilities
The Superintendent will designate an appropriate staff person of authority as Point of Contact (POC) for children in foster care who will carry out duties as assigned and notify Arizona Department of Education's (ADE’s) Statewide Foster Care Education Coordinator of the designated POC. Among those duties will be the responsibility to coordinate activities and programs to work in collaboration with the respective child welfare agency (either DCS or tribal), in the best interest of foster children that will include procedures to:
A. Continue the student's education in the school of origin or placement;
B. Collaborate with the Child Welfare Agency to implement the educational stability plan;
C. Ensure the best interest is determined regarding school enrollment;
D. Ensure necessary transportation is provided, funded, and arranged in collaboration with the Child Welfare Agency;
E. Ensure immediate enrollment and transfer of records occurs when the student moves schools; and
F. Ensure school staff are trained on the provisions and educational needs of children in foster care.
Other Relevant Policies
and Procedures
Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Foster Care provisions requires the coordination with a number of policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are listed below as cross references and are incorporated in this policy and these procedures by such reference.
Enrollment preference may be given to children who are in foster care.
Adopted: December 12, 2023
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-530.04
15-816 through 15-816.07
15-821
15-823 through 15-825
42 U.S.C. 11301, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001,
as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015
(Foster Care Provisions)
CROSS REF.:
EEAA - Walkers and Riders
IKEB - Acceleration
JF - Student Admissions
JFAA - Admission of Resident Students
JFAB - Admission of Nonresident Students
JFABD - Admission of Homeless Students
JFB - Open Enrollment
JG - Assignment of Students to Classes and Grade Levels
JLCB - Immunizations of Students
JLH - Missing Students
JR - Student Records
JRCA - Request for Transfer of Records