At this time of year, many children and youth in foster care are embarking on the new school year. This change brings opportunities for child development, positive peer and adult relationships, learning, skill-building, and for older youth, transition to life after high school. Education is a key well-being measure and there are a few important considerations for judges and attorneys to ensure students stay on track throughout the school year.

 

All children and youth who are enrolled in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or are between the ages of 6-19 years old must attend school. Also, under certain circumstances, children receiving special education services are eligible to attend school until their 22nd birthday. Children currently or formerly in foster care are eligible for free pre-kindergarten programs provided by their school district.

Every child in foster care has an Education Decision-maker (EDM). The Department of Family and Protective Services designates the EDM and notifies the school of the EDM via Form 2085-E. Form 2085-E must be filed with the court within 5 days of the Adversary Hearing. Subsequent changes in the EDM are reported in permanency progress reports. Children receiving special education services also have a “parent” to participate in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (“ARD”) committee meetings, an important due process right. The foster parent can act as the “parent” who can make special education decisions for children in foster care receiving special education services. If the foster parent is unwilling or unable to serve in that role or the child resides in a non-foster home setting, a “surrogate parent” can be appointed by the court or the school district. Although the EDM and “parent” for special education purposes could be the same person, this is not always the case.

Research shows that children lose approximately 4-6 months of academic progress with every school move. Thus, minimizing the number of times a child in foster care changes schools is critical. Under Texas Education Code Section 25.001, a child in foster care can remain in the same school (referred to as the “school of origin”) without payment of tuition, upon entering foster care, after a placement change, or after exiting foster care, until the child completes the highest grade offered at the school.

 

Appropriateness of the child’s current educational setting and the proximity to the school must be factors in each residential placement decision. If it is not in the child’s best interest to remain in the school of origin, the child must be enrolled in the receiving school within three days, with their school records transferred to the receiving school within 10 working days. Consideration should be given to the timing of the move and conflicts with testing and other important school dates. 

Courts must assess at each permanency hearing whether the child’s educational needs and goals are being met. Similarly, attorneys and guardians ad litem must be knowledgeable about the child’s education needs and goals. Other related considerations are:

Finally, don’t overlook that the state tuition and fee waiver is available to eligible youth and young adults who enroll in a dual credit or college credit-bearing course before their 25th birthday. 

There are designated points of contact for education issues at the state and local education and child welfare organizations. CPS Education Specialists organize education consortiums in each region to discuss local concerns.



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For a complete list of Jurist in Residence Letters, please visit the Children's Commission webpage . Information provided by the Children’s Commission should not be read as a commentary by the Supreme Court of Texas or any other court. The Children’s Commission website is not equipped to facilitate dialogue or conversation about matters related to the information in this communique. For more information about the Children’s Commission, please visit our website .