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Educational Support for Students and Families:

. Background. Education of children in foster care 2002 Foster Care Independence Act signedIndependent Living Services WorkgroupIssues/Recommendations related to education. . 2004 Overview of legislation related to ? . HB 723 - Education of Children in Foster CareChildren known to the Departmen

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Educational Support for Students and Families:

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    1. Educational Support for Students and Families: New Opportunities to Address the Needs of Children in Foster Care and Creating a “Military Friendly State” in Florida AMM Orlando, FL • November 3-5, 2004

    2. Background Education of children in foster care 2002 Foster Care Independence Act signed Independent Living Services Workgroup Issues/Recommendations related to education

    3. 2004 Overview of legislation related to … HB 723 - Education of Children in Foster Care Children known to the Department Establishes goals not rights Requires state agreement Requires local agreements

    4. HB 723 — Education of Children in Foster Care DCF and school district agreement shall include, but is not limited to… DCF requirements District School Board requirements DCF/School Board requirements for students with disabilities Training requirements

    5. Department of Education Next Steps Inform districts of legislative requirements Develop resource packet of information Provide technical assistance Disseminate district feedback/results Communicate with district liaisons

    6. Contact Information Bettye Hyle, Team Leader Student Support Services Project Florida Department of Education bhyle@tempest.coedu.usf.edu Gria Davison, School Social Work Consultant Student Support Services Project Florida Department of Education gdavison@tempest.coedu.usf.edu

    7. FOSTERING STUDENT SUCCESS The Interagency Agreement Broward County, Florida Introduction-MicheleIntroduction-Michele

    8. Education of Foster Care Children Researchers across the country have assessed the educational performance of children in foster care and have concluded that foster children as a group often demonstrate weaker cognitive abilities, behavioral and emotional problems, and higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness which contribute to poor academic performance and retention. Kurtz, P., Gaudin Jr., J., and Howing, P., Maltreatment and the School-Aged Child: School Performance Consequences, Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 17, p. 581-589, (1993). MicheleMichele

    9. Ethnicity -Black students over-represented at 61% vs 36% of overall population -Hispanic and white populations are disproportionately low -Gender was in proportion with roughly 48% female, 52% male -Also foster care youth were uniformly enrolled across all grade levels with higher than norm representation in Pre-K and 9th grade levels and slightly lower representation in 10th-12th grade-Black students over-represented at 61% vs 36% of overall population -Hispanic and white populations are disproportionately low -Gender was in proportion with roughly 48% female, 52% male -Also foster care youth were uniformly enrolled across all grade levels with higher than norm representation in Pre-K and 9th grade levels and slightly lower representation in 10th-12th grade

    10. Promotion/Retention Rates -20th day count- students in foster care were three times more likely (12.4% vs 3.7%) not to be enrolled in school by the 20th day -promotion/retention based on actual placement in 02-03 school year against previous year- foster care were 3 times more likely to be retained at nearly 21% vs 7% of the total population-20th day count- students in foster care were three times more likely (12.4% vs 3.7%) not to be enrolled in school by the 20th day -promotion/retention based on actual placement in 02-03 school year against previous year- foster care were 3 times more likely to be retained at nearly 21% vs 7% of the total population

    11. Special Program Status ESE-Exceptional Student Education FRL- Free/Reduced Lunch LEP- Limited English Proficient -particularly concerning is that the % of ESE is 3 times that of the total population (46% vs 13.8%) -FRL should technically be 100%- shortfall is most likely due to applications not being completed, especially at the high school level (raises questions however that require exploration) - LEP students less likely to be in foster care (reverse of the 3x scenario) -ESE-Exceptional Student Education FRL- Free/Reduced Lunch LEP- Limited English Proficient -particularly concerning is that the % of ESE is 3 times that of the total population (46% vs 13.8%) -FRL should technically be 100%- shortfall is most likely due to applications not being completed, especially at the high school level (raises questions however that require exploration) - LEP students less likely to be in foster care (reverse of the 3x scenario) -

    12. Exceptionality Groupings MICHELE Just over 40% are EH/SED and nearly 20% falling in the various DD categoriesMICHELE Just over 40% are EH/SED and nearly 20% falling in the various DD categories

    13. Performance on FCAT-Math Levels 1 and 2 are failing scoresLevels 1 and 2 are failing scores

    14. Performance on FCAT-Reading

    15. The Interagency Agreement Agency Collaboration Staff Development Student Records and Sharing of Info Educational Stabilization Parental Rights Surrogate Parents Independent Living Evaluation Debbie- Intro to the Agreement Michele to hand out the Manual. Debbie- Intro to the Agreement Michele to hand out the Manual.

    16. Current Collaborative Efforts Quarterly Steering Committee Coordination of Training and Presentations Parent Involvement Training Surrogate Parent Planning Transition Planning Student Services Departments Data Systems Early Intervention Public School Choice Preparation for First Day of School Michele Handouts for BRACE ?First Day of SchoolMichele Handouts for BRACE ?First Day of School

    17. Sharing of Information FERPA/Consent to Release Educational Records Letter Signed by the Superintendent Provision of active/exited client lists to SBBC bi-weekly “Hidden” flag on district Student Support Services screen while in foster care SBBC provides weekly attendance report and annual academic record to ChildNet SBBC provides notice to ChildNet when mandated parental correspondence is released. Child Advocate provides unique foster care demographic information form to school Centralized tracking of court orders affecting education Debbie Page 5 and 6 in Manual REFER TO HANDOUTS-RELEASE, MEMO FROM SUPERINTENDENTDebbie Page 5 and 6 in Manual REFER TO HANDOUTS-RELEASE, MEMO FROM SUPERINTENDENT

    18. Educational Stabilization “ChildNet shall attempt to place students in foster care homes within or closest to their home school boundaries to facilitate stabilization of school placements.” MicheleMichele

    19. Transportation To the extent possible, transportation is provided to maintain the student in their school of record/history 92% (238) of the requests received were routed

    20. You can make a difference! I was in nine different homes as a teenager. The one stable thing in my life was my high school. When I got moved to the children’s shelter, staff took turns picking me up to make sure that I got to school. In retrospect, I realize that it was the most powerful thing somebody could have ever done for me — made sure I got an education. (Bernstein, p. 81)

    21. Internal Partners in Success Student Services (Social Work, Guidance, ESE, FDLRS, Psychological Services) Dropout Prevention Transportation Adult/Community Education Information Technology Legal Services

    22. External Partners in Success Department of Children and Families Community-Based Care Provider Child Protective Investigation Units Attorney General’s Office Guardian-ad-Litem Office Legal Aid/Attorneys-ad-Litem Judges Service Providers

    23. Current Collaborative Ventures SED Network Shared Services Network Safe and Drug Free Schools Forum Community Alliance DCIP (Dependency Court Improvement Project)

    24. For Additional Information/Questions Contact: Debbie Winters, M. Ed. Dependency Court Liaison School Board of Broward County (754) 321-2122 fax: (754) 321-2129

    25. Military Friendly Florida Bettye Hyle & Rich Downs, Student Support Services Project Lee Clark, BEESS, DOE

    26. 26 Military Friendly Florida SB 1604 amended or created laws Purpose of law Effects on schools and districts Technical assistance needs

    27. 27 Florida’s Military Installations Bay-Tyndall AFB Brevard- Patrick AFB Clay- Camp Blanding Dade- Southern Command Duval- NAS Jacksonville NS Mayport Escambia- NAS Pensacola Hillsborough- MacDill AFB Monroe- NAS Key West Okaloosa- Eglin AFB Hurlburt Field Pinellas- CG Group St. Petersburg Santa Rosa- NAS Whiting Field

    28. 28 Purpose Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), 2005 list Loss of revenue Maintain and grow perception that Florida is military friendly Enhance accessibility of Florida’s schools to military connected students

    29. 29 Military Dependent Student Scholarships Section 295.01 Amended existing scholarship program to include eligible military dependents whose parent dies as a result of service connected injury, disease or disability sustained while on active duty Changed from sustained during time of war

    30. 30 McKay Scholarships Section 1002.39(2)(a) Eliminates the residency requirement for military dependent students All other eligibility requirements remain in effect Section 1002.39(8) Districts must expedite development of matrix based on existing/current IEP

    31. 31 Memoranda of Agreement Section 1003.05 A cooperative agreement between district & military installation to facilitate transition & collaboration. Districts w/military installations must develop MOA Contiguous districts encouraged to participate in development of MOA All districts must comply w/ legislative mandates

    32. 32 Access to Programs Section 1003.05(3) Preference given to all active military dependent children All school districts must comply If student meets eligibility criteria-must be enrolled, not placed on waiting list Priority regardless of when entered district

    33. 33 Alternative Assessment Section 1008.221 Transferring “Seniors” may use concordant SAT or ACT scores in lieu of FCAT Not required to take FCAT prior to use of ACT or SAT

    34. 34 Foreign Liaison Officer Tuition Section 1009.21 Active duty foreign military officers serving as liaison officers residing or stationed in Florida, & their dependents classified as residents for tuition purposes Must attend CC or university w/in 50 miles of military establishment where assigned

    35. Technical assistance needs?

    36. 36 Resources Military Child Education Coalition: www.MilitaryChild.org Student Support Services Project: http://sss.usf.edu FL DOE: www.firn.edu/doe/military/ Rich Downs, School Counseling Consultant, SSSP rdowns@tempest.coedu.usf.edu or 850.922-3732 Lee Clark, Program Specialist, FL DOE Lee.Clark@fldoe.org or 850.245-0478

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