For the second year in a row, the County Office of Education won the mid-size county category for the , a statewide effort to increase the number of students in the foster care system who pursue higher education.
According to a , high school seniors who complete their financial aid applications are more likely to enroll in higher education. Historically, however, youth in foster care have completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) applications at a much lower rate than the general student population.
In response, the (JBAY) launched the California Foster Youth FAFSA/CADAA Challenge in 2017 in partnership with the California Department of Education, the California Student Aid Commission, and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to recognize county programs that are successful in supporting their students in foster care in completing their FAFSA/CADAA application.
In 澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 County, the County Office of Education collaborates with 澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 County Human Services and other organizations through the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP), which serves the unique educational needs of children in foster care to improve their educational outcomes. The FYSCP utilizes a holistic approach where all team members play an important role in helping students achieve success. Members meet regularly and are in close communication to ensure that students are aware of and encouraged to take advantage of resources, such as college tours, fairs, and consultations regarding postsecondary options.
Through the FYSCP, educators, counselors, and other school staff receive the training, resources, and other support necessary to help their students complete their application. Members collectively review the status of each senior's application and develop a support plan, using a collaborative approach to create an encouraging, nurturing environment for each student.
As a result, 80 percent of 澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 County seniors in the foster care system successfully completed their application for financial aid in the 2023-2024 school year – 23 percentage points higher than the average completion rate for California youth in foster care (57 percent) and 16 percentage points higher than the average completion rate across all California students (64 percent).