Foster Care & Education: Ensuring Stability and Success

Why Students in Foster Care Face Unique Educational Challenges

Students in foster care represent one of the most vulnerable populations in our education system, facing significant barriers that their peers simply don’t encounter. The statistics paint a sobering picture of educational inequality:

Key Facts About Students in Foster Care:

• 400,000 children and youth are in foster care in the U.S. at any given time
• Only 70% graduate high school compared to 86% of the general population
• Fewer than 3% earn a college degree by age 26
• 4-6 months of academic progress lost with every school change
• 30-50% are eligible for special education services

These students experience frequent placement changes, school mobility, and trauma that creates lasting impacts on their academic success. Every time a child moves to a new foster placement, they risk losing educational stability, social connections, and academic momentum.

Research shows that half of all youth in foster care are vulnerable to school failure and dropout. They display higher rates of aggressive and noncompliant behaviors in school settings, along with significant emotional challenges that stem from their experiences of abuse, neglect, and instability.

As Beth Southorn, Executive Director of LifeSTEPS, I’ve spent over three decades working with vulnerable populations, including students in foster care who face housing instability alongside educational challenges. Through our comprehensive support programs, we’ve seen how stable housing and wraparound services can dramatically improve educational outcomes for these resilient young people.

The Educational Problems for Students in Foster Care

Picture a teenager trying to solve math problems while wondering if they’ll be sleeping in the same bed tonight. This is the reality for many students in foster care, who face educational challenges that most of us can barely imagine.

The most devastating barrier these young people encounter is constant instability. When a child’s living situation changes—sometimes with just a few hours’ notice—their entire world shifts. A new foster home often means a new school, new teachers, and a completely different curriculum.

This placement instability creates what researchers call “school mobility”—a term for the heartbreaking reality that these kids change schools far too often. Scientific research on placement stability and mental health shows just how damaging this can be.

Every school change costs students in foster care four to six months of learning time. It’s not just about missing lessons. Different schools use different textbooks and have different graduation requirements. Credits get lost in the shuffle, and students find themselves repeating classes or missing prerequisites for courses they need.

But the academic disruption is only part of the story. These students also carry the weight of trauma—the very experiences that brought them into care. Abuse, neglect, and family breakdown leave deep emotional scars that show up in classrooms every day.

Some students in foster care turn their pain inward, becoming withdrawn and anxious. Others act out, displaying what teachers might see as defiance or aggression. Both are understandable reactions to trauma, but they make learning incredibly difficult.

Traditional classrooms aren’t always equipped to handle these complex needs. A student who seems “disrespectful” might actually be having a trauma response. These behavioral challenges often lead to suspensions or special education placements—outcomes that further derail their education.

The statistics tell a sobering story. Only 70% of students in foster care graduate high school, compared to 86% of all students. More than half fail at least one grade. Between 30% and 50% need special education services, often because their trauma symptoms are misunderstood as learning disabilities.

How Instability Impacts Academic Performance

When students in foster care move frequently, the educational consequences ripple through their school experience. Each transition brings new challenges that compound over time.

• Frequent school changes disrupt learning in ways that are hard to recover from. Education can feel disjointed and confusing.
• Lost academic credits become a major roadblock to graduation. Bureaucratic barriers like incompatible course requirements can add years to a student’s high school journey.
• Delayed graduation becomes almost inevitable when credits don’t transfer properly. Some give up entirely, seeing their peers graduate while they’re still trying to catch up.
• Social disconnection adds another layer of pain. Just as students start to form friendships and trust teachers, they’re uprooted again, creating a cycle of isolation.
• Emotional distress from constant uncertainty makes it nearly impossible to focus on learning. The stress affects everything from memory to problem-solving skills.

Behavioral and Emotional Impact in the Classroom

The trauma that brings children into foster care doesn’t disappear when they enter a classroom. Instead, it shows up in ways that can puzzle teachers who don’t understand the underlying causes.

• Internalizing behaviors might make students in foster care seem quiet or withdrawn. But inside, they’re often battling anxiety, depression, and overwhelming sadness, which can manifest as physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches.
• Externalizing behaviors are harder to ignore. These students might seem angry, defiant, or aggressive. But these behaviors are often protective mechanisms—ways of maintaining control in a world that has felt chaotic and unsafe.
• Both aggression and noncompliance can be trauma responses rather than deliberate defiance. A student who’s been hurt by adults might struggle to trust new authority figures.
• The anxiety and depression many students in foster care experience are natural responses to their circumstances. They are often grieving multiple losses while trying to adapt to new environments.

This is why trauma-informed classrooms are so crucial. Instead of punishing behaviors, these environments seek to understand them. Teachers learn to recognize trauma responses and respond with compassion. At LifeSTEPS, we’ve seen how powerful this approach can be. When students receive wraparound support that addresses their housing, emotional, and educational needs together, they can achieve remarkable success.

The Crucial Role of Social and Systemic Support

For students in foster care, social and systemic support isn’t just helpful; it’s absolutely vital for their academic survival and success. These young people need a robust network of caring adults and well-designed programs to counteract the instability and trauma they experience.

The Influence of Key Adults on Students in Foster Care

The presence of supportive adults can be a game-changer. Our experience at LifeSTEPS shows that a consistent, caring adult can provide the stability and encouragement that these students desperately need. The research backs this up, identifying specific sources of support as most influential:

• Teacher as a Central Support Figure: Perceived teacher social support is often the most influential source, significantly associated with both academic performance and behavioral health. Teachers who are trained to connect, understand, and advocate for students in foster care can make a profound difference.
• Foster Parent Involvement: Foster parents play an incredibly important role in a child’s daily life. Their active involvement in a student’s education—attending parent-teacher conferences, ensuring homework is done, and advocating for their needs—is critical.
• Caseworker and School Collaboration: Effective support requires seamless collaboration between child welfare agencies and schools. When caseworkers and school personnel communicate regularly, they can ensure that educational needs are met and transitions are as smooth as possible.
• Mentors and Community Allies: Mentorship programs and community allies are vital for building strong support networks, connecting youth with consistent guidance and a sense of belonging that can buffer the negative impacts of instability.
• Building Long-Lasting Relationships: For many students in foster care, consistent relationships are rare. Every positive connection helps build resilience and a sense of self-worth, which are foundational for academic success.

Effective Programs and Policies for K-12 Success

Recognizing the unique needs of students in foster care, several crucial policies and programs have been implemented to promote their educational stability and success:

• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): This landmark federal law includes specific provisions to support children in foster care. It mandates collaboration between state educational and child welfare agencies and requires every school district to designate a Foster Care Liaison to coordinate services.
• Uninterrupted Scholars Act (USA): This act facilitates information sharing between educational and child welfare agencies, permitting the disclosure of education records to child welfare agencies legally responsible for the student’s care. This is crucial for ensuring continuity of services.
• Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSC): In many states, like California, county offices of education operate FYSC programs. These programs work to identify and address the educational needs of students in foster care, providing direct services and advocacy.
• School District Liaisons: As mandated by ESSA, these liaisons are key figures in ensuring that students in foster care can remain in their “school of origin” to maintain academic and social continuity.
• Immediate Enrollment & Transportation: Students in foster care have the right to immediate enrollment in a new school, even without complete paperwork. If they remain in their school of origin, districts and child welfare agencies must collaborate to provide transportation.
• Tutoring Programs and Academic Support: Many programs, including those offered by LifeSTEPS, provide one-on-one academic support and educational counseling. Our Summer Reading Program, for example, has a 97% literacy maintenance/improvement rate, showing the power of targeted academic interventions.

Navigating Post-Secondary Education: Barriers and Solutions

The dream of college feels almost impossible for many students in foster care. While their classmates worry about choosing majors, these young people face barriers that can seem impossible. The statistics tell a heartbreaking story: fewer than 10% of youth who age out of foster care will earn a college degree.

The financial reality hits hard. With the average cost of a four-year public university running over $25,000 per year for in-state students, these numbers represent more than tuition—they represent dreams deferred. Many youth aging out of foster care at 18 face immediate concerns about basic survival: Where will I live? How will I eat? How can I think about college when I don’t have a stable place to call home?

At LifeSTEPS, we understand this connection deeply. Through our housing stabilization programs, we’ve seen how foundational stability transforms educational possibilities. Our 93% retention rate through rental assistance isn’t just about keeping roofs over heads—it’s about creating the stable foundation that makes pursuing higher education possible.

Overcoming Financial Obstacles to Higher Education

Despite the daunting challenges, there are pathways forward. The key is knowing what resources exist and having someone to help steer the complex system.

One of the most significant advantages comes through independent student status for FAFSA. Youth who have been in foster care at any time since turning 13 automatically qualify as independent students for federal financial aid. This means their eligibility for grants and loans depends on their own financial need, dramatically increasing their access to aid.

Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) provide up to $5,000 per year to eligible youth who have aged out of foster care. In California, the Chafee Grant can be used for career, technical, or college courses.

Many states and universities also offer tuition waiver programs for former foster youth. California’s public post-secondary institutions, for example, have programs and resources dedicated to supporting these students.

At LifeSTEPS, our Scholarship Program has awarded $2.1 million to help residents pursue their educational dreams and break cycles of poverty. We’ve seen how this investment transforms not just individual lives, but entire family trajectories. We work closely with our residents to build financial literacy and provide guidance through every step of the college application and aid process.

Specific Challenges for Indigenous Students in Foster Care

The path to higher education becomes even more complex for Indigenous youth in foster care, who face additional layers of systemic barriers and historical trauma.

The numbers are stark. In the U.S., Native American and Alaska Native children are overrepresented in foster care at a rate more than double their proportion in the general population. This massive overrepresentation reflects generations of systemic injustice and ongoing discrimination within child welfare systems.

For Indigenous students in foster care, the trauma runs deeper than placement instability. They carry the weight of intergenerational trauma stemming from colonization, forced assimilation policies, and centuries of systemic oppression. This historical trauma, combined with the instability of foster care, creates compound challenges that can severely impact mental health and educational engagement.

These compounding factors mean Indigenous youth in foster care often have worse educational outcomes than their non-Indigenous peers in care. They need programs that don’t just provide academic support, but also cultural connection, community healing, and recognition of their unique strengths and challenges.

Culturally-sensitive support isn’t just helpful for these students—it’s essential for their survival and success. Programs that honor Indigenous traditions, provide culturally appropriate healing environments, and maintain connections to community and heritage create pathways to educational success that work with, rather than against, their cultural identity.

Long-Term Outcomes and Becoming Part of the Solution

The reality for students in foster care who don’t receive proper educational support is heartbreaking. Without that foundation, many face unemployment, housing instability, and low-wage jobs. At LifeSTEPS, we see this challenge through our residents who’ve aged out of care. Some end up involved with the criminal justice system, become parents before they’re ready, or struggle with health issues that could have been prevented.

Perhaps most devastating is the loneliness these young adults often experience. After years of temporary placements, many find themselves truly alone. It’s a cycle that seems impossible to break—but it doesn’t have to be.

At LifeSTEPS, we’ve seen the power of stable housing in changing these outcomes. Our 93% retention rate through rental assistance shows what’s possible when someone has a safe place to call home. When housing is stable, pursuing education and building a future becomes manageable.

But we can’t do this alone. Every single one of us has the power to change a young person’s trajectory. Whether it’s through becoming a foster parent, mentoring, or simply spreading awareness, there are countless ways to help.

How to Become a Foster Parent in California

Becoming a foster parent might be one of the most meaningful decisions you’ll ever make. You’re not just providing a roof over a child’s head—you’re offering stability during one of the most vulnerable times in their life.

The process in California is thorough, designed to ensure children are matched with safe, nurturing homes. It’s called Resource Family Approval (RFA).

The journey starts with an orientation with your local county agency. You’ll then complete an application, background checks, and a comprehensive home assessment. The whole process typically takes a few months, giving everyone time to make sure it’s the right fit.

Pre-approval training is next. This program covers essential topics, from understanding the child welfare system to learning about trauma, attachment, and loss. You’ll learn how neglect and abuse affect children and why maintaining their connections is so crucial.

Foster parents work hand-in-hand with county social workers and other professionals. The primary goal is often reunification with the child’s family when possible. When it’s not, you’ll help that young person transition to their next chapter—whether that’s adoption, independent living, or another permanent arrangement.

To learn more, search for the “Resource Family Approval” program in your California county.

Other Ways to Support Youth in Care

Maybe foster parenting isn’t right for you right now. That’s okay—there are so many other ways to make a real difference in the lives of students in foster care.

• Advocacy: Support policies that put educational stability first for foster youth. Push for continued funding of programs like Chafee Grants, tuition waivers, and school-based liaisons.
• Volunteering: Many nonprofits need people to help with tutoring or life skills training. At LifeSTEPS, our Summer Reading Program achieves a 97% literacy maintenance and improvement rate because of dedicated volunteers and staff.
• Mentoring: A stable adult relationship can provide guidance, encouragement, and proof that a young person matters.
• Financial donations: Directly fund the programs that work. Our Scholarship Program has awarded $2.1 million to help residents pursue their educational dreams and break cycles of poverty.
• Raising awareness: When you educate your community about the challenges students in foster care face, you build a network of compassion that changes lives.

Conclusion

The educational journey for students in foster care is filled with obstacles that would challenge even the most resilient among us. We’ve explored how frequent moves disrupt learning, how trauma shows up in the classroom, and how financial barriers can slam shut the door to college dreams. For Indigenous youth in care, these challenges are even more complex, layered with generations of systemic harm.

But here’s what gives me hope after three decades in this field: students in foster care are incredibly resilient, and when we provide the right support, they thrive.

A caring teacher can change everything. A stable foster parent makes all the difference. Policies like the Every Student Succeeds Act and programs offering tuition support create real pathways forward. When we wrap these young people in consistent, caring support, we see change happen.

At LifeSTEPS, we’ve built our entire approach around this truth. We know that students in foster care need more than just a roof over their heads—they need stability that touches every part of their lives. That’s why our 93% retention rate through rental assistance isn’t just a number; it’s proof that stable housing creates the foundation for everything else to flourish.

Our Summer Reading Program, with its 97% literacy maintenance and improvement rate, and our Scholarship Program, which has awarded $2.1 million, show what’s possible when we give young people the tools they need. We see the whole person, offering financial literacy, academic tutoring, and wraparound services that help young people not just survive, but truly thrive.

Every day in Sacramento and across California, we see students in foster care writing their own success stories. They’re graduating high school, heading to college, and becoming adults who give back to their communities. They remind us that with the right support, there’s no limit to what’s possible.

The challenges are real, but so is the hope. Together, we can ensure that every young person in foster care has the stability and support they need to reach their full potential.

Explore our youth services programs.

For more information on how LifeSTEPS supports individuals and families, please contact us:
LifeSTEPS, 3031 F Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816 | Phone: (916) 965-0110 | https://lifestepsusa.org.