Education Advocacy for STUDENTS in State Care Julia Sterr, Program Field Representative for Education, Child Welfare Services Melissa White, Superintendent/Director of Education, Office of Juvenile Affairs

Youth in our care face many Barriers to Education What we Know Youth in our care face many Barriers to Education Placement Stability Inadequate level of Education Emotional factors/Substance Abuse

Placement stability Youth in our care move school systems an average of 3 times. When students change schools, they lose an average of 4-6 months of educational progress. The uncertainty of home and family situations can profoundly affect student’s ability to focus in school McKinney Vento Importance of keeping children in their home school

Inadequate level of education Children and youth in out of home care are 2-3 times more likely than are other students to have disabilities that affect their ability to learn Due to multiple moves school officials often fail to identify the special needs of students. Youth with special needs are unable to complete assessments that would provide them with the services they require Melissa will discuss some of the assessments that youth take along with the special education assessments that are completed.

Emotional Factors Youth in our care may lack daily support from their biological parents and many times have been separated from siblings and extended family. Youth in our care have difficulty developing stable relationships due to high mobility. Youth in our care have less positive peer interactions due to history of maltreatment. Youth in our care are in survival mode and cannot see the importance of education in their lives.

You Can make a difference Educate yourself on basic educational requirements Ask questions Be involved in the youth’s education Support and Advocate Nine Tenths of Education is Encouragement

10 things You need to know

1. Smooth transition Current records Schools have 3 days to respond to a request for records Health-shot records, vision screening, hearing screening, doctor notes Cumulative-grades, birth certificate, reading data, state and local test scores, reports Confidential- RTI, Special Education testing, 504, diagnosis, IEP Title Math and Reading. RSA--- K-3rd are required to do benchmark testing. Ask for this information!!!!---RSA next slide

2. Court Reports Public schools can assist in completing the court reports. Grade vs. Level Progress made Behavior concerns Attendance Are the biological parents involved in the education?

3. Special Education Student have to qualify based off of federal guidelines. They have to rule out home environment and lack of instruction. You can request for testing, but it needs to be in writing.-request has to come from bio parent or foster parent. Once you sign consent the clock starts. (45 days) Related services. Existing testing and diagnosis.

4.Every Student succeeds act (ESSA) Points of Contact Fostering Connections Best Interest Determination Local and State Plans Enrollment Without Delay

5. Drive to Read Student must demonstrate proficiency on their 8th grade reading test or an approved alternate assessment in order to be eligible to get their drivers license. The student must still go through their local OHP office and take the written and driving test.

6. OK Promise Complete paperwork in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade. Family income $50,000 or less. (waived for students in custody) Course requirements- Aligns to College Prep/Work Ready Maintains a 2.5 GPA Stay out of trouble inside and outside the classroom. (Determined by LEA) In return---- Assistance with college tuition. Foster parents can sign OK Promise paperwork. Income eligibility is waived and modified for foster youth. All other requirements apply.

7. Graduation Requirements College Prep/ Work Ready vs. Core Curriculum Local vs. State requirement Education Compact for Kids in State Care Timely transfer and/or enrollment. Expedited exchange of records. Waives requirements of records for enrollment. (NEW) Automatic Enrollment in CORE curriculum. (NEW) Requirement of schools to waive local graduation requirements if it extends original expected date. Mobility--- classes offered during certain years. Competencies MyData– Long. Data System Us ME!!!

8. OKSA Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program serves youth 14-23 Foster youth 14-18 have access to funds to support their success in obtaining their education Tutoring Initiative Yes I Can Foster youth ages 14-23 have access to funds to support their education as well as one time contingency funds for apartment needs and graduation needs.

9. Post Secondary Opportunities FAFSA- Youth who were in foster care on or after their 13th birthday, even if they were subsequently adopted, do not need to count parental income for determining their eligibility for college financial aid Oklahoma Foster Care Tuition Waivers- If a youth is in care 9 months between their 16th and 18th birthdays they are eligible. Adopted youth are also eligible

Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program- provides “up to” $5000 annually towards a post secondary program’s total cost of attendance. Oklahoma Youth with Promise-is a private scholarship for former foster youth who need assistance with post- secondary educational expenses and complete an application process and are approved by the selection committee. Lou Hartpence Scholarship

10. Education matters

Resources Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) http://www.ok.gov/sde/ OSDE Special Education http://www.ok.gov/sde/special-education OSDE Graduation Requirements http://ok.gov/sde/achieving-classroom-excellence-resources OK Promise http://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/

Resources Casey Family Programs http://casey.org/ Oklahoma Disability Law Center http://www.okdlc.org/ Oklahoma Parent Center http://oklahomaparentscenter.org/ OKDHS http://okdhs.org/ OKSA http://oksa.ou.edu/ U Can Go 2 http://www.ucango2.org/

Questions

Julia Sterr Programs Field Representative, Education ESSA State Point of Contact, Child Welfare Services (405) 325-5402 Julia.Sterr@okdhs.org Melissa White Superintendent/Director of Education Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (405) 530-2800 Melissa.White@oja.ok.gov