The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act was signed into law on October 7, 2008, as Public Law 110-351. It’s many provisions includes requirements to increase Educational Stability. These requirements add travel to and from school in the foster care maintenance payment definition, adds a case plan requirement to ensure educational stability for children in foster care, and requires that the title IV-E agency ensure that each child receiving a payment under the title IV-E plan is attending school full time or has completed secondary school.
This document from Virginia Department of Education provides a summary of resources and policy changes following the passage of House Bill 777 into law in 2024, Enrollment of and Provision of Free Public Education for Certain Students; Kinship Care and Foster Care.
The law provides that certain provisions of law relating to continuity of public-school enrollment and attendance, and immediate enrollment for students in foster care, apply to a student who has transitioned out of foster care and whose custody has been transferred to the student’s parent or prior legal guardian, or who has been emancipated.
If a student in a kinship care arrangement moves into a different school division during the school year as a result of safely returning home, being emancipated, or transitioning to a new kinship care arrangement, such student shall be deemed a resident in the previous school division of residence for the remainder of the school year for the purpose of tuition-free enrollment and attendance.
This Child Welfare Information Gateway fact sheet for families describes how adoption assistance in the form of subsidies may help make adoption possible for families who are considering adopting a child from foster care. The factsheet explores how to secure financial assistance and adoption tax credits and how to use a State’s fair hearings process to challenge decisions related to such assistance. It also includes information on deferring adoption assistance and suggests helpful resources.
Adoption Assistance
Information about Implementing Fostering Connections Act in Virginia: Fostering Connections: Joint Guidance for School Stability in Foster Care
Information from Virginia Department of Education about Implementing Fostering Connections Act in Virginia: Enrollment of students in foster care.
Information about Fostering Connections related to Grandparents and Other Relatives raising children.
Reports and information from the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: Sustaining Momentum: Sustaining Educational Stability for Young People in Foster Care
From the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: How the IDEA and the Fostering Connections Act can Work Together to Ensure School Stability and Seamless Transitions for Children with Disabilities in the Child Welfare System
From the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: Fostering Success in Education: National Fact Sheet on the Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care
From the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: Schools as Mandatory Partners in Ensuring Educational Stability
The joint ED and HHS Letter to Chief State School Officers and Child Welfare Directors on Implementing the Fostering Connections Act.
Information about children in foster care from the US Department of Education.
Information and links about Fostering Connections from the Children’s Defense Fund.
General information about Fostering Connections Act from the Child Welfare Information Gateway.