Status:

Enacted

Education

Foster Care

Foster Youth Services (2015)

AB 854 (Weber)

Location

California

Foster Youth Services (FYS) programs provide supplemental educational services and supports to foster children in California. Nearly two-thirds of the state's foster children are ineligible for these services which are limited to foster students in institutional placements. NCYL is working on legislative solutions to expand FYS to all California foster children bringing FYS into alignment with the State's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) for education and giving the FYS program a greater role in ensuring foster children are well served through the LCFF.

Press Coverage

New Laws Strengthen Educational, Other Supports for Calif. Foster Youth

October 15, 2015

The Imprint

Advocates Say California School Districts Should Spend More on Foster Youth

The Imprint

Bill Would Expand School Support for California Foster Youth

The Imprint

State program to help foster students not available to some

February 23, 2015

EdSource

State, districts struggle to support foster youth

September 15, 2014

EdSource

Related Initiatives

Building Compassionate Systems for System-Involved Students

Equitably supporting students in foster care, involved in the juvenile justice system or experiencing homelessness, requires dynamic multi-agency collaboration between local education, child welfare, judicial and community-based partners with a shared vision for effectively serving these

Establish Youth-Centered Education for Youth in Foster Care

Youth in foster care often miss out on the opportunity to learn because of unnecessary home and school moves. NCYL works in partnership with school districts and students in foster care to create compassionate, truly supportive education environments.

Establish Youth-Centered Approaches To Education

NCYL works to advance school systems that center the needs and experiences of students - from removing barriers to learning, to providing training for teachers and school personnel, to empowering youth to more fully participate in their own educational trajectory.

Related Resources

Report on the Actions of U.S. States Regarding Education for Students in Foster Care and the Every Student Succeeds Act

This report contains information on the ongoing work of several states who have taken purposeful and progressive steps towards helping students in...

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Related Laws & Policy

See All Laws & Policy

Expanding Access to Diplomas for Highly Mobile Students (2021 & 2022)

SB 532 (Caballero)

SB 532 builds bridges to a high school diploma and post-secondary educational success for highly mobile students.

PROMYSE Act - Promoting Youth Success and Empowerment Act (2021)

SB 493 Bradford

SB 493 improves the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act by ensuring adequate oversight, equitable decision-making, and effective investments prioritizing our communities’ most critical needs. SB 493 was not successful in 2021.

Mental Health Education (2021)

SB 224 (Portantino)

SB 224 ensures that middle and high school health courses include instruction on mental health and wellness, and requires the state to develop a plan to expand mental health instruction in California public schools by January 1, 2024.

Our Team

Senior Program Manager

Joy Hernandez