Did you know?
In accordance with Texas Education Code TEC §28.0256, beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, all students enrolled in the 12th grade must do one of the following in order to graduate:
✓ Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
✓ Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or
✓ Submit a signed opt-out form.
To best support students in foster care with the FAFSA, it is important for school counselors and liaisons to be aware of the foster care specific questions on the FAFSA, as they assist students in filing their application. These questions ensure that students in foster care receive the maximum amount of financial aid. See the following resource for more information: Resources FAFSA-Foster Care Questions.
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Tips for Mid-Year Check-Ins for Students in Foster Care |
The list below are some helpful tips and strategies to assisting students in foster care during this time of the school year.
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Run a list of all students classified as foster care to check for any students on your list who may have withdrawn from school. Similarly, check to make sure that you have accounted for any new students enrolled. This can help to assist school transitions, maintain proper records and provide necessary supports.
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Meet with all students to confirm they have all of the tools needed to be successful in school.
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Check to confirm that you have all 2085 & 2085-E forms on record for all students within your school.
- Send an updated foster care list to your nutrition department.
- Ensure that 11 or 12 grade students in DFPS conservatorship are provided information about the tuition and fee waiver.
- Engage with the student and their caregiver or guardian regarding their Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) as required by the Texas Education Code. Make sure that students in foster care have an up-to-date PGP in place.
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Please review the Transition Assistance Toolkit, which outlines LEA expectations and practical guidance for how to ease school transitions for students experiencing foster care or homelessness.
Thank you for the important role you play in preparing students for post-secondary! Below are some important ideas and opportunities to keep in mind as you assist students in foster care.
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Every college in the state of Texas has a Foster Care Liaison. Please view this list of Higher Education Foster Care Liaison List. Please reach out to them to schedule college visits and obtain other important information to assist students in foster care. Linking students to specific points of contact and taking extra steps to ensure connections, relationships, and support in higher education is essential to creating bridges from high school to post-secondary for students.
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Individuals currently or formerly and/or adopted from the Texas foster care system qualify for a lifetime tuition and fees waiver at any Texas state-supported institution of higher education, as long as a student enrolls in at least one college or dual credit before turning 25.
The resources below are available to support students in Foster Care with post-secondary opportunities.
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Education Service Center Foster Care Champion |
Within every Education Service Center, there is a voluntarily designated Foster Care Champion to assist with conveying information and trainings for districts. ESCs offer professional development opportunities, and some may host collaborative forums and joint trainings with child welfare partners, known as Education Consortiums. Contact your local ESC Foster Care Champion to learn about opportunities, trainings, and supports that may be available or are currently being developed to address the education of students in foster care.
Foster Care 101
Foster Care 101 was presented on October 26, 2021. If you were not able to attend the live training, we have uploaded the presentation and video on our HMAR webpage. Please view the training to ensure you are up to date on the basics of assisting our students in foster care.
Foster Care Spotlight
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TEA highlights and recognizes Foster Care Liaisons from across the state who are doing great work within their district. This issue's Foster Care Liaison spotlight is Senecia H. Saveat from Beaumont ISD.
"Mrs. Saveat is the Director of Student Services in Beaumont ISD and serves as the districts foster care liaison. Senecia is one of a kind. Her devotion to the success of the students is evident as she is always the first to advocate for them. Mrs. Saveat and her awesome staff attends every meeting offered by the ESC and TEA, ensuring they are always up to date on the latest information. Senecia has been very helpful to the ESC. She is readily available when her assistance is needed and it has been mentioned to her many times that her many years of experience in multiple programs and the feedback she provides when requested, for the betterment of our programs, is always spot on! She is a great asset to the students and staff at Beaumont ISD and to Region 5 ESC."
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If you would like to highlight a deserving foster care liaison,
please submit all nominations to fostercareliaison@tea.texas.gov.
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