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Education Partnership for Academic Student Success (Ed PASS) . Defining the Problem Reviewing Federal Directives Looking at Specific Details of Ed PASS Discussing the Issues. Defining the Problem. Research Review How do foster children fare academically?
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Education Partnership for Academic Student Success (Ed PASS) • Defining the Problem • Reviewing Federal Directives • Looking at Specific Details of Ed PASS • Discussing the Issues
Defining the Problem Research Review • How do foster children fare academically? • What are some of the barriers to academic success for foster children?
How do Foster Children Fare Academically? • Compared to students not in foster care, those in foster care: • Drop out of school at significantly higher rates, • Are incarcerated at significantly higher rates, • Are about half as likely to graduate from high school. Smithgall, C., Gladden, R.M. Howard, E. George, R. & Courtney, M. (2004). Educational experiences of children in out-of-home care. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago.
How do Foster Children Fare Academically? • A study of the adult functioning of former foster children in three Midwestern states found that: • More than 1/3 of the youth in foster care had five or more school changes • On average, youth in foster care read at seventh grade level after completing the tenth or eleventh grade. Courtney, M.E., Terao, S. & Bost, N. (2004). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Conditions of youth preparing to leave state care. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago.
How do Foster Children Fare Academically? • A study of youth in foster care in Washington State found that compared to the general student population, those in foster care: • Scored 16-20 percentile points lower on statewide standardized tests Burley, M. & Halpern, M. (2001). Educational attainment of foster youth: Achievement and graduation outcomes for children in state care. Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy.
How do Foster Children Fare Academically? • Findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study revealed that: • Foster care alumni completed high school at rates similar to the general population; however, they used GED programs at six times the general rate • Rates of completion for secondary degrees: • Any degree/cert. beyond high school: 20.6% • Vocational degree: 16.1% (25 yrs. or older 21.9%) • Bachelor’s degree: 1.8% (25 yrs. or older 2.7%) Pecora, P. J., Kessler, R. C., Williams, J., O’Brien, K., Downs, A.C., English, D., White, J., Hiripi, E., White, C. R., Wiggins, T., & Holmes, K.E. Improving family foster care: Findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Programs. Available at http://www.casey.org.
What are the Barriers to Academic Success? • Children in foster care have physical, emotional or behavioral challenges that often interfere with learning • Multiple school transfers • Lack of consistent adults in their lives who have the knowledge and skills to advocate for educational and supplemental services • Schools and child welfare agencies typically do not coordinate their services Christian, S. (2003). Educating children in foster care. Washington, D.C.: National Conferences of State Legislatures. Retrieved September 22, 2007 from http://www.ncsl.org/programs/cyf/cpieducate.pdf
Clear Federal Directives • No Child Left Behind: • Stronger accountability for academic achievement • Close achievement gaps for children of color, disabled students, students who have English as a second language • Children in foster care are not named as a disadvantaged group.
Clear Federal Directives • Race to the Top: • Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments • Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals • Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers on where to focus practice improvements • Targeting the lowest-performing schools
Clear Federal Directives • Child and Family Services Review: • Outcome WB2: “Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.” • Evidence of appropriate assessment of child’s educational needs, provision of services to meet those needs, school records in the case file • In foster care cases, documentation that school information provided to foster parents at time of placement CFSR On-site review instrument - Item 21 http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/tools_guide/onsitefinal.htm
Clear Federal Directives • John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program • To provide foster youth with tools that could help them develop life skills and achieve better educational and vocational outcomes • To prepare these youth for education after high school • To support their personal and emotional needs • To help them access funds for education and training
Franklin County Ed PASS – targeted youth Eligibility • Youth in FCCS custody • Enrolled in a middle school, jr. high or high school in participating school district 6 wks of Transition Services to youth in Ed PASS who: • Leave custody • Transfer to non-participating school district
Franklin County Ed PASS - partners Partnership • Franklin County Children Services • Education Services Center of Central Ohio • Hires, trains, supervises Education Specialists • School Districts • South-Western City Schools • Columbus City Schools • Through transition services, working with 6/16 districts in Franklin County
Franklin County Ed PASS - services Services • Assess educational, career needs • Provide services to meet those needs • Tutoring • Transportation • Advocacy • Reward systems and so on • Connections to school-based extra-curricular activities
Franklin County Ed PASS – when, where services are provided • Education Specialists • Meet at least weekly with each student • Meetings can be at: • school, foster home, library, work site • Arranged Services • Schedules and locations to match student’s needs
Franklin County Ed PASS – benefits Benefits • FCCS receives monthly reports of each student’s educational progress • Ed Specialists obtain and send education records • Building good will with school districts • In 3 ½ yrs, not one student has dropped out
Franklin County Ed PASS – results Results – 2008-2009 Ac Year • End of academic year more than 83% of PASS Students were earning passing grades. • 6/6 PASS students who started the year on track to graduate from High School did graduate, including a pregnant teen. • 89% of PASS students maintained or improved their school attendance. • 30 PASS students demonstrated perfect attendance (no absences or tardies).
Franklin County Ed PASS – why do it? • CFSR well-being standards • OAC 5101:2-38-08 • Educational attainments belong to the youth. • Education is the best intervention available for promoting self-sufficiency and productive adult lives. • The standard of “our own.”