Studies have shown that students living in out-of-home care can lose four to six months of academic progress every time they change schools. Educational stability means a student placed in out-of-home care has the opportunity to continue their education with minimal disruption.
Requirements under ESSA:
- Educational stability relies on the presumption that students should remain in their school of origin.
- The school of origin is defined as the school where the student was enrolled or most recently enrolled in at the time of placement.
- A student’s right to continue in their school of origin remains in effect during the entire time they are placed in out-of-home care. A student placed in out-of-home care is not required to apply for open enrollment in order to attend their school of origin.
- These rights apply to all public school students placed in out-of-home care, including students attending public preschools or public charter schools.
- To maintain students in their school of origin, agencies must collaborate to provide transportation. Transportation must be provided with minimal disruption to the student’s education.
Sources
20 U.S.C. 6311(g)(1)(E)
American Bar Association Legal Center for Foster Care & Education
Non Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care, U.S.D.E . and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jun. 23, 2016.