Students in Foster Care

Foster Care Education Program

Improving the Educational Outcomes of Children and Youth in Foster Care

Foster Care Liaison:
DeAnna Sheets, Director of Federal Programs
1756 Bee Creek Road
Branson, MO 65616
Phone: 417-334-6541 ext. 9702
Fax: 417-243-2520


Schools, child welfare agencies, communities, and families must work together to provide the equitable opportunities, specialized services, and useful supports that are essential for students in foster care to be successful in school and in life.

State Definition of a child in foster care:
The Title I foster care provisions apply to ALL children in foster care enrolled in schools in the SEA.

  • "Foster Care" means 24-hour substitute care for all children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the child welfare agency has placement and care responsibility.
  • Includes placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions, and pre-adoptive homes.
  • A child in foster care regardless of whether the foster care facility is licensed and payments are made by the State, Tribal, or local agency for the care of the child, whether adoption subsidy payments are being made prior to the finalization of an adoption, or whether there is Federal matching of any payments that are made. (45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a)).

Important Documents

Dispute Resolution Procedures Best Interest Determination Placement Form
School District Foster Care Policy School District Transportation Plan