I. The District shall collaborate with child welfare agencies to ensure educational stability for children in foster care.

II. The District shall designate a contact person for students in foster care. The point of contact will be reported to the Florida Department of Education and the local child welfare agency.

III. The District shall ensure that children in foster care remain in the school of origin when it is in the best interest of the child. The district shall strive to use their best efforts to ensure that siblings attend the same school whenever possible.

IV. If it is determined that it is not in the child’s best interest to remain in the school of origin, the District shall expedite transfer and enrollment in the new school.

V. The District shall provide transportation so that a child in foster care may remain in the school of origin. If additional costs are incurred, the District shall work with the child welfare agency to resolve the issue of transportation expense.

VI. The District shall ensure that children in foster care receive all appropriate services.

VII. Relevant personnel shall be trained on the requirements relating to educational stability for students in foster care and the procedures for best interest determination and transportation.

VIII. The Superintendent shall develop procedures for ensuring educational stability for students in foster care. Procedures shall include but are not limited to

A. Identification of students in foster care;

B. Role of the point of contact;

C. Determination of the child’s retention in the school of origin or placement in another school;

D. A dispute resolution process developed with the child welfare agency to be used when all parties do not agree on the proposed placement of the student;

E. Methods of providing transportation to maintain enrollment in the school of origin or to provide transportation to a different school;

F. Process for expediting enrollment and attendance in another school if it is determined to be in the best interest of the child;

G. Process for expediting transfer of student records to the enrolling school if the student does not remain at the school of origin.

H. Training for staff regarding the requirements for maintaining stability for children in foster care and the effects placement in foster care on students.

©EMCS
New: 12/01/16
Revised: 05/07/1