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Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1955 clarifies language in the law and aligns services for students in foster care. Starting June 9, students who are the “subject of a dependency proceeding,” including students under the sole jurisdiction of tribal child welfare, qualify for foster care services.
- The foster care provisions now extend to all students with an open dependency, including those in a trial-return-home placement.
- Districts must share the responsibility/cost of transportation
REMINDER: Due to our data sharing agreement with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), OSPI may not share information related to a student’s foster care status without enrollment verification from the district. When running a CEDARS Foster Care report, a “No Results Returned” message does NOT mean that there are zero students in foster care, only that the report is not available.
Districts are required to submit an enrollment file in October. Once your district submits that file to OSPI, you will be able to run a current report. If you have any questions, please contact your district CEDARS administrator.
REMINDER: Students in Foster Care have a right to immediate enrollment, even without record of immunizations.
Section 1111(g)(1)(E) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), requires a best interest determination when a student enters foster care or changes placement to determine whether the student should remain in their school of origin or enroll in a new school. If it is in the student’s best interest to enroll in a new school, the school must immediately enroll the student, even if the student is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment (including immunization records).
REMINDER: Students in foster care are categorically eligible for free meals, without a household meal application. They remain eligible for the entire school year, and up to thirty days into the subsequent year, even if the student returns to their home and is no longer considered a foster child.
Similar to District Homeless Liaisons, Foster Care Liaisons can provide the information to directly certify students in foster care for free meals. Acceptable documentation includes:
- Information indicating the state retains legal custody of the child. That documentation can come from the court that placed the child, Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Tribal Child Welfare, or a local foster agency that administers the foster care program.
- The School Notification Form and/or Caregiver Authorization Form.
If you are new to being a school district Foster Care Liaison, you probably have a lot of questions surrounding the role and the responsibilities. In this training you will be provided with all sorts of great information to help set you up for success on this journey! This training will cover topics such as where to start, key provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act, and liaison roles and responsibilities.
Project Education Impact Workgroup: An approach to state level systems change for students in foster care and/or experiencing homelessness
Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This session will cover an overview of Project Education Impact (PEI) and its focus on strengthening the systems that serve students in foster care and/or experiencing homelessness. Attendees will gain an understanding of PEI’s vision, structure, and state level role. We will also spend time sharing about the work of PEI’s Post Secondary Sub Group and their recent efforts to elevate the voices of students and student support professionals to influence, inform, and create legislative priorities and drive systems change. Presented by Fred Kingston, Director of Systems Change and Youth Engagement with Treehouse and Samie Iverson, Senior Manager, Education Strategy with Building Changes.
Networking Session: Work together to facilitate a warm hand-off
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Please join us for an upcoming networking session on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 1-2 p.m. We’re excited to offer a a cross system networking opportunity for professionals that work with Passport to Careers eligible students (students in foster care or experiencing unaccompanied homelessness). This will be a casual, facilitated meeting with some guided questions to encourage conversations and connections. If you are in any of the roles below, this webinar would be a great fit for you!
- K-12 Professional (e.g. Counselor, Foster Care Liaison, McKinney Vento Liaison, etc.)
- Community-Based Organization Staff
- College Partner (e.g. Passport Designated Support Staff, Financial Aid Administrator)
- Child Attorney
- Independent Living Services or SETuP Provider
- Parent (bio, foster, or adoptive)
- A person who has experienced foster care or homelessness
- Social Worker
- WIOA Youth Service Provider
- Shelter Staff
- Other professionals that serves students in foster care and/or experiencing homelessness
The School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee (SS-SWAC) is seeking new membership for the 2022-23 school year. The SS-SWAC encourages students who are experiencing homelessness, or have experienced homelessness in the past, to join the Advisory Committee.
In the 2019 session, the legislature directed the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to establish a School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee (SS-SWAC). “The purpose of this committee is to advise the Superintendent, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s School Safety Center, the Regional Safety Centers, school districts, and public and private schools on all matters related to comprehensive school safety and student well-being” (SSHB 1216).
The SS-SWAC duties include:
- Make recommendations on policies and strategies to improve school safety and student well-being.
- Identify emerging issues and best practices for consideration and implementation, particularly as these relate to the integration of student well-being and school safety.
- Establish priorities for training, funding, statewide data collection, and other forms of support for students, schools, and school districts.
- Engage the public on school safety and student well-being.
- Perform other duties as required by law.
As we begin the fourth year of the established committee, we are looking to increase and expand our membership. OSPI is seeking a demographically and geographically diverse committee that includes members of historically marginalized groups, community members, school district staff, advocates, and other stakeholders.
The committee is scheduled to convene quarterly for a total of four meetings in 2022–23. The committee’s work will culminate in a bi-annual report to the legislature. We are seeking individuals who can participate in a majority of the scheduled meetings.
Please see the list of 2022–23 meetings below:
 If you or someone you know is interested in serving on the committee, please respond to the membership survey at this link: Member Application 2022–23.
The membership form will close Friday, September 2nd at 3:00pm pacific standard time. We expect to make decisions on membership by Friday, September 9th, 2022.
Please contact Ella Deverse at ella.deverse@k12.wa.us if you have any questions or concerns.
OSPI Foster Care Education Office 360-725-6505| fostercare@k12.wa.us
Peggy Carlson, Foster Care Program Supervisor | peggy.carlson@k12.wa.us
Savanna Cavalletto, Administrative Assistant |savanna.cavalletto@k12.wa.us
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