SLO County AB490 Interagency Agreements For School Attendance Clerks, Registrars, Counselors
 

Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth
 

There are approximately 100,000 youth in California between the ages of 0-18 who are in foster care. Approximately 400 of these are in SLO County.

Two-thirds of foster youth live with strangers. Children living in foster care and group homes face daunting obstacles to successfully completing their education. As a result, it is not surprising that foster youth fall behind their peers in educational attainment. Here are a few of the distressing facts:

Educational Profile

    30% of foster youth perform below grade level.
    50% of foster youth are held back in school.
    In a national study, 46% of foster youth had not completed high school within 2.5 to 4 years after exiting care.
    In California, less than 3% of foster youth go on to four-year colleges.

(Despite these low outcomes, the aspirations of foster youth are very high: 70% of foster youth plan to attend college, and 19% plan to continue their education past college graduation.)

2-4 Years after Emancipation for Youth in Foster Care

    46% have not completed high school
    51% are unemployed
    40% have been on public assistance or incarcerated
    25% have been homeless
 

Download more information about Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth Factsheet (435 kb)

 
Effective January 1 st, 2004, Assembly Bill 490 imposes new duties and rights related to the education of youth in foster care. The new law provides for increased school placement stability and improved school transfer procedures. While schools have always been charged with the duty to monitor, promote and encourage the educational progress of foster children, AB 490 further defines and describes the role and responsibilities of the school, as well as the responsibilities of the children’s social workers and caregivers. AB 490 seeks to ensure that all of California’s foster children may finally have the educational opportunities they deserve.