Foster Care

The foster care provisions of Title I under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) require state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to work with child welfare agencies to ensure the educational stability of children in foster care.

The legislation places emphasis on the need to provide educational stability for children in foster care, as well as on collaboration between SEAs, LEAs, and child welfare agencies to ensure that students in foster care have the same high-quality educational opportunities to achieve at the same high levels as their peers. These provisions emphasize the importance of limiting educational disruption by keeping children who move in foster care (due to entering the foster care system or changing foster care placements) in their schools of origin, unless it is determined to be in their best interest to change schools. These provisions also ensure that if it is not in their best interest to remain in their schools of origin, children in foster care are enrolled in their new schools without delay.

We are committed to meeting the needs of all children. If you have or know of an NCVA student who is in foster care, please contact the North Carolina Virtual Academy Foster Care Liaison, Paige Adams, at padams@ncvacademy.org or call 919.346.0121 ext. 2030 for more information.

North Carolina Foster Care Program Contact Information

Office Phone: 336.315.7400

Email: ncfoster@serve.org

Visit North Carolina Foster Care Education Program for resources associated with the Every Student Succeeds Act: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children and in Foster Care.