Rescuing Forgotten Futures: A National Conversation on the Education of Students in Foster Care

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, as Congress begins the long anticipated overhaul of the nation's education policy known as No Child Left Behind, one vulnerable group of students – too often left out of the debate -- will roar into its center.

In an effort to focus attention on the unlocked potential of these students, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and Fostering Media Connections (FMC) held a "National Conversation" on foster care and education, linking policymakers in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles with researchers in Chicago, teachers and former foster youth in Sacramento via webcast. The conversation during this unprecedented nationwide event mirrored the themes detailed in "Rescuing Forgotten Futures," an Action Guide released by CCAI and FMC today, which outlines how everyone from citizens to policymakers can help improve educational outcomes for foster youth.

"Every foster youth deserves a high quality education with an academic mentor and the opportunity to stay in his or her school of origin. With the Senate education committee rewriting the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this week, it is important that they include provisions that ensure school stability for foster youth," said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who joined the "National Conversation."  "I have long fought for the right of children in foster care to get the quality education every child deserves, and I will continue to advocate for them to receive the support and guidance they need to have a chance to succeed in the future."

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who co-chairs the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth alongside Sen. Landrieu, pointed to the importance of the "National Conversation" in finding answers to the challenges students face in foster care.

"A major issue for young people in foster care is how difficult the system makes it to stay in the same school.  A child might get a new foster placement that's only a few miles away from where he's been but have to switch schools because of school district rules.  Finding a way to avoid this upheaval needs to be a policy goal at every level of government.  Discussions like this one can help encourage the debate and bring about a meaningful response," Sen. Grassley said.  

For the full release, visit: http://www.ccainstitute.org/images/stories/press_release.pdf.

Contact: Ryann Blackshere, Fostering Media Connections // [email protected] // 626.664.5883

SOURCE Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute