School has started again in California and you’re a foster parent who wants the best for your child! You’ve probably budgeted for new school supplies, got a cool lunch pail, and for your foster teens, maybe a school shopping trip for some new clothes. You’re also aware that school for your foster child may look different than their peers and want to know how you can support them.
There are a few different aspects to the educational experience for foster children. The nuances vary depending on needs in academics vs behavior and age. You should also be aware of what your rights are when it comes to decision making. There are a couple policies like IDEA and ESSA that dictate your rights and what services may be available to your foster student. If you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to your social worker with at your foster agency.
What happens day to day in the classroom is also important. Certain assignments, language, and dynamics can all uniquely affect your child due to their foster status. We’ll go over all these aspects so you can have an overview of how to best support your foster child in their education!