Youth in Care - Frequently Asked Questions - Foster Care Liaisons, Residency, and Enrollment

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

Frequently Asked Questions for foster care liaisons and education stability covers district designation duties under ESSA, including collaboration with child welfare partners and information sharing through the foster care liaison. It outlines key responsibilities such as leading best interest processes, facilitating record transfers and immediate enrollment, coordinating transportation, and ensuring regular school attendance. Residency guidance explains maintaining school of origin when placements change, special education surrogate consultation, and rules for accredited education programs. Enrollment guidance addresses transfer timelines, record requirements, and handling situations when an IEP is not yet available.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Foster Care Liaisons

District requirement to designate a foster care liaison

Duties of the district foster care liaison

Residency

Changes in placement and school residency

Definition of residency and staying in the same school

Enrollment

Guidelines for enrollment and transfers

Responsibilities when a student with an IEP transfers

Enrollment when a current IEP is not available

Frequently Asked Questions Foster Care Liaisons Is my district required to designate a foster care liaison? A: Yes. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) contains key protections for students in foster care to promote school stability and success. ESSA requires the State Education Agency (SEA) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to collaborate with child welfare partners in an effort to improve the educational outcomes of children and youth in foster care. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will be sharing information with the field through the district-designated foster care liaison. DCFS will be a critical partner while planning for full implementation. Districts will identify this point of contact through their Title I Part A application. What are the duties of the district foster care liaison>? A: A school district should carefully consider the roles of each position before assigning the district foster care liaison position to staff due to changes in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as reauthorized by ESSA. It is critical that staff designated as the foster care liaison have the time and capacity to fulfill their responsibilities. The general role of the district foster care liaison is to facilitate district compliance with state and federal laws as they relate to children and youth in foster care and to collaborate with the Child Welfare Agency (CWA) and SEA in an effort to address educational barriers that prevent children and youth in foster care from being identified and then enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Some of the roles and responsibilities of the district foster care liaison may include: • Leading and documenting the development of a process for making best interest determinations. • Facilitating the transfer of records. • Facilitating immediate enrollment. • Serving as the primary contact person for CWA, SEA, and social workers. • Facilitating data sharing with the child welfare agencies, consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other privacy protocols. • Ensuring that children in foster care are enrolled in and regularly attending school. • Managing best interest determinations and transportation cost disputes. • Developing and coordinating local transportation procedures. • Coordinating with the foster care program supervisor at the CWA. • Attending training and professional development opportunities to improve district implementation efforts. • Providing professional development and training to school staff on the Title I Part A provisions and educational needs of children in foster care, as needed. Residency What if the youth in care changes placement, changing their residency school? A: When there is a change in a child's placement or living arrangement, it is most often beneficial for the child to remain in the same school. DCFS shall consult with the child as well as with local school personnel in both school districts when making this decision. When the child is receiving special education services, the child’s educational surrogate parent must also be consulted since the location of educational services for the child will be determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) . Department youth may only attend education programs that have been accredited by the appropriate SEA. ( 105 ILCS 5/10 20 . 12b) How is residency defined for youth in care and is he or she able to stay in the same school, even if they reside outside the district’s boundaries? A: The school of origin for youth in care is the Illinois school district in which the child resides, whether placed by DCFS with a foster parent, a relative caregiver, or a residential facility However, ESSA guidance regarding school stability indicates that when DCFS places a youth in a different school, the child in care may remain in their school of origin tuition-free if it is determined to be in their best interests. ( 105 ILCS 5/10 2

FAQs

Is my district required to designate a foster care liaison?

Yes. ESSA requires collaboration between state and local education agencies and child welfare partners to improve outcomes for children and youth in foster care, and DCFS shares information through the district-designated foster care liaison.

What are the main duties of the district foster care liaison?

The liaison facilitates district compliance with state and federal foster-care education requirements and collaborates with child welfare agencies and the SEA. Duties include leading best interest processes, facilitating record transfers and immediate enrollment, ensuring regular attendance, and coordinating transportation and training for staff.

How are residency and school placement decisions handled when a youth in care changes placement?

When placement or living arrangements change, it is often beneficial for the youth to remain in the same school, with consultation by DCFS and local school personnel. Special education surrogate parents must be consulted when special education services are involved, and school stability guidance may allow remaining in the school of origin tuition-free when determined to be in the youth’s best interests.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Angel