Transportation for Students in Foster Care

New Guide on Transportation for Students in Foster Care

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act

NAEHCY is pleased to announce a new ESSA implementation tool:"Considerations for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in Developing Transportation Procedures for Students in Foster Care Under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.”

Co-authored with AASA, the School Superintendents Association, this document is intended to help school personnel understand the responsibilities of both child welfare agencies and LEAs for transporting children in foster care, specifically which aspects are optional and which aspects are requirements. In addition, we provide a series of questions to guide the development of local transportation procedures, including tips to evaluate community needs, available resources, and collaborative opportunities.

ESSA amended Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to require that LEAs receiving Title IA funds collaborate with state or local child welfare agencies on local procedures for transportation for students in foster care. ESSA also amended the McKinney-Vento Act to remove the phrase “awaiting foster care placement” from the definition of homelessness. In contrast to the majority of assessment, accountability and funding provisions in ESSA which are effective beginning the 2017-2018 school year, ESSA’s foster care transportation changes and the removal of “awaiting foster care placement” from the McKinney-Vento Act take effect on December 10, 2016.

For more ESSA information and tools, please see http://www.naehcy.org/educational-resources/essa