Education stability was incorporated into law by the Colorado legislature in 2008. Colorado statute provides compliance with the educational stability provision of P.L. 110-351.
In 2008, Colorado House Bill 1019 mandated that each school district and state Charter School Institute designate an employee or contractor to serve as a Child Welfare Education Liaison. The child welfare education liaisons collaborate with child placement agencies, county departments, the state department, and schools to ensure proper school placement, transfer and enrollment of foster children. The liaisons work with all parties to ensure a foster child remains in an educational situation that promotes stability. The law also requires schools to transfer education records within five school days and that the receiving school admits these children within five days of receipt of a student’s records.
Improving Foster Students' Education and Well-being
To assist State and local efforts in addressing the educational needs of children in foster care, the United States Department of Education and Health and Human Services has developed resources and guidance designed to support educators, child welfare professionals, and others in their work to improve the educational outcomes and well-being for students in foster care.
A dedicated Web page, Students in Foster Care, is now active on ED’s Web site. This Web page provides information on relevant laws, guidance, and technical assistance materials related to educational support for students in foster care.
Child Welfare Education Liaison (CWEL) Resource
- Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Care Education: This document was created in response to commonly asked questions around educational issues for youth in foster care.
- Foster Care Education Data: This document provides information on Graduation and Dropout Rates for Colorado Students in Foster Care.
- Best Practices for CWEL's: This best practices for LEA CWEL's, provides an overview of laws to support district CWEL's to better understand their roles and responsibilities for children and youth in foster care.
- Kinship Fact Sheet and Narrative:This fact sheet provides definitions and what districts need to know about Colorado Kinship, Kinship Family Foster Care, and Non-relative Foster Care. The Narrative accompanies it to add clarification around commonly asked questions.
- Legislation at a Glance: Foster Care Education: Legislation at a Glance is a tool designed to outline and simplify legislation around Foster Care Education in an easy to read format.
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008
- Sweeping legislation that affects many areas of child welfare law
- The education portion of the Act provides guidance on educational stability for children in out-of-home placements
- Stay in same school if in best interest of the child
- If moving schools is in the best interest, immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school, with all educational records provided to new school
Colorado Department of Human Services - Agency Letters
The purpose of Agency Letters is to communicate information and policy interpretation to county departments of human and social services.
- Overview of Fostering Connections to Success and Achieving Adoptions Act of 2008
- Implementation of Rules Regarding Implementation of the Requirements in the Fostering Connections and Success and Achieving Adoptions Act of 2008 and the Relative Guardianship Assistance Program
- Memorandum of Understanding Between the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Education to Implement HB10-1274 Regarding certain Students Re-Entering the Public School System
- Categorical Eligibility for Free School Meals for Students in Foster Care and Students Placed in by the Court into a Caretaker or Kinship Home