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Raising Educational Achievement for Foster and Probation Youth in Los Angeles County

Tools and Links to Related Materials

Tools

A helpful tool for caregivers trying to enroll their foster youth in the public school system, this letter outlines the applicable law and what rules school administrators need to follow when enrolling these youth.

Select your district from the scrolling menu or click on the menu title to see all the available letters.

  The California Blue Ribbon Commission Final Report
This is the final report of the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care. The report is titled: Fostering a New Future for California’s Children: Final Report and Action Plan, May 2009: Ensuring Every Child a Safe, Secure, and Permanent Home.

CA Ed. Law Fact Sheets  CA Education Law Fact Sheets 2008
These are the latest facts sheets developed by the CA Foster Youth Education Task Force. Here, you will find the latest legal information about: AB 490, Education Rights, Special Education, Nonpublic Schools (NPS), AB 3632, Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA), Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP), School Discipline, and Special Education Discipline.

County of Los Angeles Probation Department Education Reform Project
The report concerning the approval of comprehensive educational reform recommendations and a preliminary action plan for implementation at probation camps and juvenile halls.

Download PDF file here:

H.R. 6893 Fact Sheet
H.R. 6893, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, was one of several recent bills signed by the President. This will open the door to federal support for youth to age 21-- ending the trend in many states to push youth out of foster care at 18. Other provisions in the bill will enhance the ability to find, approve and support relative caregivers, increase efforts to preserve sibling ties, and mandate better attention to the educational and health needs of youth in care.
Download a summary of the key provisions in the bill in PDF format:

Keys to Creating Standards-based IEPs
The Special EDge is a newsletter published three times a year and funded by the California Department of Education, Special Education Division. The Special EDge is designed to inform and support parents, educators, and other service providers on special education topics, focusing on research-based practices, legislation, technical support, and current resources. This issue contains useful information related to Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
Download this issue in PDF format:  

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Ward of the Court Status Verification
for those Applying for College:

Proof of Foster Care Status Proof of Foster Care Status
A list of the two types of verification of your foster care status that college student financial aid offices will accept, with explanations.

Filling out the FAFSA application Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
If you are living with a legal guardian and want to know whether or not you can be considered a "ward of the court" on the FAFSA application, read these guidelines.

Sample Ward of the Court Verification Letter Sample Ward of the Court Verification Letter
If you need verification of your "ward of the court" status for the purposes of applying for financial aid for college, give this sample letter to your social worker. This is the only information that the school's financial aid office is required to have.

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