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State Technical Assistance Highlights

The Legal Center for Foster Care and Education is a national leader in using the law to improve educational outcomes for youth in care. We provide in-depth training and technical assistance on education stability throughout the country. We have supported states in establishing and maintaining interagency collaboration, developing and implementing policies and protocols to support education stability and success, and measuring outcomes through data and information sharing. Our work has led to court rules, interagency agreements, state legislation, and practice changes across the country.

Pennsylvania Highlights

Pennsylvania has made great strides in improving policy and practice around foster care and education. Recent highlights include:

Joint Guidance on FERPA (Uninterrupted Scholars Act): To ensure effective implementation of this important law, the PA Department of Education (PDE) and Department of Public Welfare (DPW), issued joint guidance emphasizing the importance of collaboration and providing practical guidance explaining the law, who can access records and what documentation should be submitted to schools.
Policy on Fostering Connections Act: DPW issued a comprehensive policy directive to all Pennsylvania counties to address education issues, including requiring education liaisons and an education screen.
Judicial Rules: The PA Supreme Court amended their judicial rules to require judges in dependency matters to inquire into a child’s education stability, the appropriateness of the child’s education – including access to special education and remedial education services – and to ensure that every child in both dependency and delinquency matters has an educational decisionmaker.
Educational Success and Truancy Workgroup: This newly-created statewide workgroup, which includes representatives of from courts, county child welfare agencies, PDE, school districts, and the school board association, meets monthly to provide leadership on education issues facing children in care in PA.

The Legal Center provided technical assistance to PDE and DPW in developing policy guidance and facilitating stakeholder collaboration to promote these initiatives. If you are interested in receiving technical assistance or have questions about the work in Pennsylvania, please contact us.

To read about other state work, please visit our State Work page.

The Legal Center for Foster Care and Education created the following three resources to assist local jurisdications with education for youth in foster care during the COIVD-19 pandemic.

The Legal Center for Foster Care and Education created the following three resources to assist local jurisdications with education for youth in foster care during the COIVD-19 pandemic.

Tip Sheet for School Districts Re: COVID-19 and Students in Foster Care

Education Addressed in Court Proceedings during COVId-19

Education During COVID-19: What Child Welfare Agencies Can Do to Help

Preparing for the New School Year During COVID-19: A Checklist for LEAs and Child Welfare Agencies

This comprehensive checklist will guide LEAs and child welfare agencies on topics such as information sharing, collaborating, supporting students and caregivers, accessing technology, special education, and making educational decisions for students in foster care. The checklist also includes tips and considerations for LEAs and child welfare agencies for specific learning models (in-person, hybrid, or distance learning.)

Additional Resources:

ABA Webinar from April 22,2020: COVID and Students with Disabilities (not specific to students in foster care) The program recording and materials are available on the CRSJ webpage.