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Frequently Asked Questions

Education

What is expected of me as a foster parent in the area of education?

When a child is placed in your home, you will have a Best Interest Determination (BID) meeting with your case specialist to discuss school enrollment options and transportation to and from school. The BID will consider the wishes of the parent, caregiver, and child; the school’s distance from where the child is placed; the child’s age, personal connections, social, and emotional state; academic, developmental, language, and socialization needs; and the effect a school change will have on the child's learning, academic strength, and grade placement.

Caregivers are expected to communicate with the child's teacher, other education personnel and the child’s case specialist on a regular basis in order to monitor the child’s progress.

Is daycare available for the child in my care?

Children in DCS care may have their child care fees covered depending on the child care provider that you choose. Child care providers will receive payment up to the maximum reimbursement rate negotiated by the Department of Economic Security. There is no copayment for child care services. However, there may be additional charges that caregivers are responsible to pay if the provider’s rate exceeds the maximum reimbursement rate.

Children in foster care who are between 3 and 5 years old are also eligible for Head Start.

How can I locate a child care provider?

Your DCS Specialist will help you identify an eligible child care provider by doing the following:

Refer you to the Child Care Resource and Referral: 1-800-308-9000 or https://www.azccrr.com/ and

Assist you to verify the identified provider has a current DES registration agreement and has a vacancy.

What is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?

ESSA is a federal law designed to ensure educational stability for foster children. ESSA states that foster children must remain in their original school if it is in their best interests to do so. If it is determined the child should enroll in a new school, ESSA allows the child to be enrolled immediately with just a Notice to Provider.

What school should I enroll the child in care into?

Federal law requires schools and child welfare agencies such as DCS to help children in foster care remain in the school they attended prior to coming into care.

Your school district liaison will work with the DCS specialist to determine school selection, enrolling the child, and a transportation plan.

You can find contact information for your school district's liaison here: https://www.azed.gov/fostercare/foster-care-liaisons.

If it is decided that the child will not remain in their school of origin, you can enroll the child in any local public or charter school. You can also discuss with your DCS specialist if it is appropriate to enroll the child in an online school, private school or alternative school if those options meet the child’s educational needs.

What documents are needed to enroll the child in care in school?

According to federal law, schools must enroll foster children whether or not the foster parent has all of the required documentation. You should be able to enroll the child with the Notice to Provider that was given to you by the DCS specialist. You do not have to have the child's birth certificate, immunization records, or prior school transcripts to enroll the child in school.

If you experience any trouble enrolling the child in school, please contact your school district's ESSA liaison; you can find contact information for your school district's liaison here: https://www.azed.gov/fostercare/foster-care-liaisons

Who is responsible for transporting the child in care if the child remains enrolled in the school of origin?

The DCS specialist will discuss with the out-of-home caregiver and other team members to ensure transportation to school. Transportation options include: caregiver or another responsible adult transports the child directly to school or a designated school bus stop; car pool approved by caregiver; school provides transportation through a bus route or other service; public transportation, if appropriate to the child’s age and safety needs; or a DCS transportation vendor.

What information can I share with the school?

You may share information with school staff that is relevant to the education of the child, including trauma history or behavior that affects the child's ability to learn and interact at school.

Can the child in my care be photographed or videotaped for the yearbook, school videos, and other school venues?

Children in care can be photographed for school yearbooks, videos, etc. However, children should not be identified as a foster child in any publication.

Can I sign the paperwork to enroll the child in my care in extracurricular activities and/or attend field trips?

Yes. The Notice to Provider allows you to sign permission slips from school and register the child in sports and other extracurricular activities.

What should I do if the child in my care is suspended or expelled from school?

If your child in care receives a suspension or an expulsion, please complete an Unusual Incident Report form.

If a pattern of behavior emerges or the behavior prohibits the student's ability to receive an education, then an IEP or a 504 Plan may be necessary. If a child already has an IEP, the behavior plan should be reviewed or revised.

How can I stay informed about my child's academic progress?

Most schools offer parents an online portal where they can monitor their child's progress. You can contact your child's school for information on how to access the portal. As a foster caregiver, you are entitled to have access to this system.

Where can I get basic information about the special education process?

You can find basic informaion about special education on the Arizona Department of Education's website: https://www.azed.gov/specialeducation

What is an Individual Education Program (IEP)?

Any child who qualifies for special education services has an IEP. The IEP is a plan tailored specifically to the individual child's needs. The IEP is intended to help the child succeed in the classroom. IEP's are created with input from teachers, counselors, parents, and the student. For more information, you can visit the Arizona Department of Education's website: https://www.azed.gov/specialeducation

What is the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP?

A 504 plan provides the student with accommodations in their current classrooms. IEPs provide special education services outside of their current classroom.

For details about qualifying disabilities and other differences between 504 plans and IEPs, review A Parent and Educator Guide to Section 504 from the U.S. Department of Education: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/504-resource-guide-201612.pdf

Arizona Department of Child Safety