For those attending the IAASE Board meeting this week, here is information I discussed along with my Dept of Children and Family Services contact if you have questions regarding students in foster care and best interest determinations.
In December 2015, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), and instituted new protections for children in foster care. These provisions took effect on December 10, 2016 and complement those in the Fostering Connections Act and require the State Education Agency and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) work with child welfare agencies (e.g. DCFS) to ensure the educational stability of children in foster care.
KEY ESSA PROVISIONS
· Children in foster care remain in the school of origin, unless it is determined that it is not in his or her best interest
· If it is not in the child’s best interest to remain in the school of origin, the child must be immediately enrolled in the new school even if they don’t have the required documentation.
· LEAs must collaborate with child welfare agencies to develop and implement clear written procedures for how transportation will be provided, arranged, and funded for the duration of a child’s time in foster care.
Resources:
(Good Resource) USDE Non-Regulatory Guidance https://www.isbe.net/Documents/edhhsfostercarenonregulatorguide.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Foster-Care-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf
ISBE Foster Care Provision Power Point https://www.isbe.net/Documents/ESSA-Foster-Care.pdf
Transportation Procedures https://www.isbe.net/Documents/20160831-ESSA-Educational-Stability-Webinar-Transportation.pdf
Districts that have made student best interest determinations which require transportation of a foster care student to his/her school origin and incur additional costs for providing such transportation may seek reimbursement of 50% of the actual cost from Department of Children and Family Services. Districts must complete the DCFS Transportation Invoice form at https://www.isbe.net/_layouts/Download.aspx?SourceUrl=/Documents/DCFS-YIC-Trans-Reimb-Invoice.xlsx and submit it to:
Department of Children and Family Services
Office of Education and Transition Services
406 E Monroe St., Sta. 23
Springfield, IL 62701
Attention: Molly Uhe-Edmonds, DCFS Deputy Director of Education and Transition Services
Questions regarding student best interest determinations and the DCFS Transportation Invoice may be directed to Molly Uhe at Molly.Uhe@illinois.gov. The deadline to submit all transportation invoices to DCFS for reimbursement is June 15, 2019.
Payment of 50% of the approved costs will be vouchered by ISBE on or before August 31, 2019. The remaining 50% of additional costs not covered by DCFS are claimable on the district’s 2018-19 Pupil Transportation Claim due to ISBE on or before August 15, 2019.
Tim Imler
Director
Funding and Disbursement Services
Illinois State Board of Education
Phone: 217-782-5256
Fax: 217-782-3910