“Foster Care” means substitute care for children placed by the Department of Human Services or a tribal child welfare agency away from their parents and for whom the department or agency has placement and care responsibility, including placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions and pre-adoptive homes.

Per the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, State educational agencies (SEA) hold specific responsibilities aimed at supporting the educational rights and opportunities of students in Foster Care; this also falls within requirements established under Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).Foster Care student rights include:

• access to immediate enrollment in schools regardless of access to records or additional requirements;

• free transportation to and from school;

• access to free meals services, and

• support engaging in academically and socially enriching activities offered by their school district.

-Oregon Department of Education

The Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) Act requires that all school districts identify a Point of Contact assigned to work with staff and provide assistance for students experiencing houselessness. Each school district must also have a designated liaison tasked with overseeing the coordination and application of these supports. This is done through collaboration with caseworkers and other human services representatives, training staff within their district on the unique needs of students in Foster Care, and engaging with community organizations and agencies to ensure that students and families are receiving adequate services under ESSA/ESEA.

-Oregon Department of Education

• Collaborate with caseworkers, Resource parents, Tribes, and community partners;

• Train school staff on their role in supporting students in Foster Care; and

• Engage with ODE on matters of professional development and technical assistance

-Oregon Department of Education