A child is in foster care in accordance with this definition regardless of whether the foster care facility is licensed and payments are made by the State, tribal or local agency for the care of the child, whether adoption subsidy payments are being made prior to the finalization of an adoption, or whether there is Federal matching of any payments that are made. (45 C.F.R. 1355.20(a)).

The Corporation shall remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of children and youth in foster care in schools in the Corporation. Foster care students shall be enrolled immediately, even if they do not have the necessary enrollment documentation such as immunization and health records, proof of residency or guardianship, birth certificate, school records, and other documentation.

The Corporation shall meet the Title I requirements for educational stability for children and youth in foster care, including those awaiting foster care placement. The Corporation shall identify which students are in foster care and shall collaborate with State and tribal child welfare agencies to provide educational stability for these children and youth. Corporation staff will work closely with child welfare agency personnel to develop and implement processes and procedures that include these enrollment safeguards:

In making the best interest determination, the Corporation will follow the guidelines established by IDOE and the State/Tribal or local child welfare agencies. The Corporation shall utilize the prescribed process in conjunction with local child welfare agencies in making best interest determinations. Once a determination is made the Corporation shall provide the decision in writing to all relevant parties in collaboration with the appropriate child welfare agency. When making decisions regarding educational placement of students with disabilities under IDEA and Section 504, the Corporation shall provide all required special education and related services and supports provided in the least restrictive placement where the child’s unique needs, as described in the student’s IEP or Section 504 plan, can be met.

If there is a dispute regarding whether the educational placement of a child in foster care is in the best interest of that child, the dispute resolution process established by the child welfare agency shall be used.

The Corporation’s representatives shall collaborate fully in this process, considering relevant information regarding academic programming and related service needs of the child, and advocating for what the Corporation believes is in the best interest of the child.

To the extent feasible and appropriate, the child will remain in his/her school of origin while disputes are being resolved in order to minimize disruption and reduce the possible number of moves between schools. (ESEA Section 1111(g)(1)(E)(i)).

Since the State/Tribal or local child welfare agency holds ultimate legal responsibility for making the best interest determination for the foster child in their care, if the dispute cannot be resolved, the child welfare agency will make the final determination.

All notifications and reports regarding foster care placement, changes in school enrollment, transportation services, and changes in the child’s living arrangements shall be provided to the affected parties, in writing, in accordance with the forms, procedures, and requirements of Federal and State law or State/Tribal or local child welfare agencies.

The Superintendent shall designate and make public a local point of contact who will perform the duties as assigned by the Superintendent. The point of contact shall serve as a liaison to coordinate with child welfare agencies, lead the development of a process for making the best determination for a student, facilitate the transfer of records, and oversee the enrollment and regular school attendance of students in foster care.

The Corporation shall provide privacy protections for children and families and shall facilitate appropriate data-sharing pertaining to children in foster care between child welfare and educational agencies in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Policy 8330 – Student Records.

Foster care children and their families shall be provided equal access to the educational services for which they are eligible that are comparable to those provided to other students in the Corporation including:

Consistent with procedures developed by the Corporation and the State/Tribal or local child welfare agency, the Corporation shall provide transportation services for children in foster care who reside within the Corporation.

Transportation services shall be provided in the most cost-effective manner possible.

For purposes of this section:

When it is determined to be in the best interest of a student in foster care to remain in his/her school of origin and that school of origin is in the attendance zone where the student now lives, transportation shall be provided for the student in foster care even if other students who are not in foster care but who live in the same school attendance area are ineligible for transportation pursuant to Board policy or State law.

When it is determined to be in the best interest of a student in foster care to remain in his/her school of origin and that school of origin is in the Corporation but not in the attendance zone where the student now lives, transportation services shall be arranged, provided, and funded for the duration of the child’s placement in foster care.

When it is determined to be in the best interest of a student in foster care to remain in his/her school of origin, which is in another school corporation, and the student now lives in the Corporation, the Corporation’s local point of contact shall meet with the local point of contact from the original school corporation to determine how transportation services can be provided in the most cost-effective manner possible. A goal of this collaboration shall be that the original school corporation and the Corporation will share the responsibility for and the cost of transportation of the student in foster care.

Until a plan for providing transportation is developed, the Corporation shall provide the necessary transportation.

When it is determined to be in the best interest of a student in foster care to remain in his/her school of origin, which is in the Corporation, and the student now lives in another school corporation, the Corporation’s local point of contact shall meet with the local point of contact from the transitional school corporation to determine how transportation services can be provided in the most cost-effective manner possible. A goal of this collaboration shall be that the transitional school corporation and the Corporation will share the responsibility for and the cost of transportation of the student in foster care to the school of origin.

Since foster care placements may occur across school corporation, county, or State boundary lines, coordination among multiple agencies may be necessary. The Corporation will work with appropriate State and local agencies to address such placement and transportation issues that arise. The Corporation shall provide or arrange for adequate and appropriate transportation to and from the school of origin while any disputes are being resolved.

No Board policy, administrative procedure, or practice will be interpreted or applied in such a way as to inhibit the enrollment, attendance, or school success of children and youth in foster care.

Adopted 11/14/17