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Grand Prairie Independent School District

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Foster Care Students

Foster Care Students in Texas

Students in Foster Care

Currently, there are 16,000 school-aged children and youth in Texas schools who are in the foster care system. Most children and youth in foster care experienced chaotic home lives with parents/caregivers who were unable to meet their physical and emotional needs. The children face many challenges that greatly impact their educational success in the school environment. GPISD want to provide supports for students in foster care to have a great success and fulfillment on their educational journey.

Foster Children and Youth in GPISD

GPISD District Foster Care Liaison is here to provide supporting services for foster children and youth enrolled in GPISD to ensure and promote successful school transitions for students in DFPS Conservatorship. GPISD District Foster Care Liaison works collaboratively with campus social workers/counselors/staffs and other departments to ensure students access services:
- Free Pre K eligibility
- Transportation Assistance (School of Origin)
- Immediate School enrollment
- Transition assistance
- Nutrition Services
- Student Case Management
Documentation required for enrolling students who are in DFPS Conservatorship
- 2085 (2085E, 2085FC, 2082KO) or Court Order showing students who are in care and custody of DFPS and has been placed in care with the person (foster parents/relative/fictive kin etc) completing the enrollment
- Students in foster care must be enrolled in school immediately even if they lack of required documentations (immunization record, school records etc)
Foster Care Resources
For assistance or questions, please contact Vivian Phan, GPISD District Foster Care Liaison:
- 972-522-7070
- vivian.phan@gpisd.org
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Education Laws and Guidance

State Law
The following laws are identified in the Texas Education Code addressing students in foster care:
- Data sharing and data collection requirements in PEIMS - TEC § 7.029 (Chapter 1 (PDF), p. 16; Chapter 5 (PDF), pgs. 45-46)
- Immediate school enrollment without records - TEC § 25.002(g) (Chapter 7 (PDF), p. 56)
- Attendance in the school the student was enrolled immediately before entering conservatorship, even when placed outside of the district attendance zone, until the student successfully completes the highest grade level offered by the school - TEC § 25.001(g) (Chapter 8 (PDF), p. 62)
- Excused absences for court-ordered appointments - TEC § 25.087 (Chapter 10 (PDF), p. 75)
- 11th or 12th grade student who transfers to a new school district and does not meet the graduation requirements of the new school district may request a diploma from the former school district, when on-track to graduate at the previous school - TEC § 28.025 (Chapter 9 (PDF), p. 92)
- Free eligibility for PRE-K - TEC § 29.153(b)(6) (Chapter 10 (PDF), p. 74)
- Accelerated instruction (at-risk indicators and compensatory education) - TEC § 29.081(d)(11) (Chapter 6 (PDF), p. 51; Chapter 11 (PDF), pgs. 82-83)
- Free lifetime college tuition and fees waiver. The waiver is activated when a student enrolls in dual credit or another course where a student may earn college credit- TEC § 54.366 – (Chapter 13 (PDF), pgs. 104-106)
- School districts and open enrollment charter schools are required to appoint a Foster Care Liaison and notify TEA of their Foster Care Liaison appointment - TEC § 33.904 (Chapter 5 (PDF), p. 44)
- Transition Assistance from one school to another of students in foster care - TEC § 25.007 (Chapter 11 (PDF), pgs. 84-91).
Federal Law
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Public Law 110-351

This law requires state child welfare agencies to collaborate with their state and local education agencies to promote school stability and improve educational outcomes for children in foster care (Chapter 1 (PDF), pgs. 14-15).

Education provisions in Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 include:
- Emphasis on the importance of school stability, maintaining the school in which the child was enrolled at the time of placement
- The need for coordination between state and regional child welfare and state and local education agencies
- Assurance that the placements take into account the appropriateness of the current education setting and proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement in foster care
- Ensure immediate and appropriate enrollment by child welfare and local education agencies, and provide ALL of the child’s education records to the new school, if remaining in the same school is not in the child’s best interest

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