This Michigan Educator Resource Guide for Understanding and Implementing LEA Stability for High School Youth Experiencing Foster Care is comprehensive. In addition to B.I.D.s, LEAs can “check in with youth to find out if they need support advocating with school staff, including teachers and coaches, to avoid unnecessary consequences” as a result of challenges due to foster care placement. (p. 5) There are also tips regarding attendance support, trauma-informed practices, and school discipline. Id. 

CO notification letter “to ensure a seamless transition for the student”— (1) The new school immediately enroll the student effective the date decided in the B.I.D., (2) the student’s educational records be immediately requested from the school of origin, (3) the student be enrolled in the school district’s free lunch program, (4) the school and school district waive all school fees the student may incur, and (5) special education services, if applicable.

This CA toolkit contains a section addressing immediate enrollment: “Upon enrollment, receiving Districts must request a youth’s education records from their prior school within two business days. The sending District must compile a youth’s complete education records as of the last day of actual attendance, including partial credit for high school youth, and forward a copy of all records to the new school within two business days of a request. Districts cannot withhold records due to outstanding fines or fees.” (Page 16)

This WA state primer contains several key topics to help schools ensure the immediate enrollment of students in foster care: the federal legal framework of educational stability, definitions of immediate and enrollment (i.e., “as soon as practicable (e.g., within 3 business days) to avoid educational discontinuity. It also addresses the scope of record requests and timing of transfers (i.e., within 2 business days). A student is not fully enrolled if a student is not attending school or fully participating in classes, extracurricular activities, and out-of-school and summer opportunities.”), and enrollment strategies to reduce barriers and increase full participation in school, including the critical roles of local foster care liaisons.

This three-page immediate enrollment form was created jointly by the South Carolina Departments of Education and Social Services to be used after a joint B.I.D. meeting. It has three sections: student information (including status of parental rights), enrollment certifications, and a release of information. For more information on school stability for students in foster care in SC, see the joint protocol.

This two-page form adapts the NC form to indicate if a copy of a court order is being submitted with the form. There is a checkbox for this point between the Release of Information and Educational Services Meeting on page 2.  

This two-page form marked “confidential” is to be used for the immediate enrollment of a student in foster care. It provides notice to the school principal and/or school superintendent. It includes four sections: (1) student information; (2) enrollment certifications; (3) release of information; and (4) educational services meeting, which is to be held within 30 days of the enrollment. The form ends with contact information for the LEA and county CWA. Importantly, the form defines key terms. “Immediate” means “as soon as possible, in most cases, this should be no later than the beginning of the next school day after the presentment for enrollment.” “Enrollment” means “the child is attending classes and participating fully in school activities.”

The AZ Dept. of Child Safety created a written policy regarding identifying and assigning a surrogate parent, B.I.D., school of origin, transportation, and immediate enrollment (i.e., “the child shall be immediately (within two days) enrolled in a new school, even if the records normally required for enrollment cannot be provided. The enrolling school shall be responsible for immediately contacting the school last attended by the child to obtain relevant academic and other records.”)

The Children’s Bureau (CB), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, released an Information Memorandum (IM) in 2023 regarding interagency collaboration between child welfare and educational agencies to support the academic success of children and youth in foster care, including federal law, state and local POCs, data sharing and reporting, school enrollment and  school stability, B.I.D.s, transportation, and social emotional well-being.

U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services released updated Joint Guidance in November 2024 with critical new information about how federal laws support students in foster care, including ESSA, Fostering Connections, and disability rights law. The guidance covers a range of topics, including school stability (A-H), academic success (I-K), special populations (L-Q), funding (R-V) and data collection (W-Z).

A Legal Center for Foster Care and Education brief highlighting key federal laws supporting students in foster care from early childhood to postsecondary, including data systems and information sharing.

A Legal Center for Foster Care and Education toolkit for ESSA implementation, including Q&As, federal law and guidance, checklists, tools, templates, and resources.

WA school stability website with foster care office hours, regional meetings, liaisons, POCs, state and federal laws and guidance, resources and training, and postsecondary education resources.

PA school stability website with state and federal laws and guidance, training, resources and tools, and postsecondary education resources.

NC school stability website with LEA, charter schools, Lab, ISD, and virtual POCs’ contact info, POCs’ roles and responsibilities (noting 4 key responsibilities of LEA POCs, including ensuring automatic free school meals), sample forms, law (including Child Nutrition Reauthorization), guidance, resources, and trainings.

AZ Dept. of Education’s school stability webpage with SEA, LEA, CWA, & Tribal POCs’ contact info, law, guidance, documents, resources, and trainings.

A Legal Center for Foster Care and Education brief explaining the importance of foster care and education agency points of contact (POCs)-- a requirement for state and local child welfare agencies to designate an education POC would promote collaboration with education agency foster care POCs and enhance educational stability and success for students in foster care. The brief also highlights how Iowa, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin structure their child welfare agency education POCs.

In the MA B.I.D. Flowchart & Form, Massachusetts notes timeline for B.I.D. within 5 school days of foster care placement or a change in placement, participants involved (including special education, school adjustment counselor, and, if needed, potential new LEA), SOO transportation plan for short term (1-2 weeks) and long term (i.e., “for duration of foster care OR until all grades in SOO are completed OR until BID will be revisited”), and, if needed, immediate enrollment in new school, student records requested by new LEA on the day of enrollment, and SOO sends within 2-3 days.

The OH B.I.D. Flowchart notes timelines, including notify school within 1 school day of foster care placement, B.I.D. within 5 school days, SOO transportation plan within 5 days of B.I.D., and, if needed, immediate enrollment with records request same day and SOO sends records within 1 school day. Provides color- coded roles and tasks.

In the AR B.I.D. Flowchart, Arkansas notes actions and timelines for when a student is placed into foster care or changes placement, including: CW notifies LEA foster care liaison (FCL) by the next business day; FCL immediately notifies counselors/secretary; school secretary immediately updates student’s foster care status; B.I.D. within 5 school days; SOO transportation plan within 5 school days of B.I.D.; immediate enrollment in new school, if needed, student records requested by new LEA FCL within 3 business days and SOO FCL sends within 10 business days. Provides an acronym key for terminology; a color-coded key regarding roles as child welfare, education, or joint; and action steps when a student in foster care experiences a traumatic event.