Foster Youth Services

Download Information About Educational Rights and AB 490

• FOSTER CARE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION - Q & A
• INTRODUCTION TO AB 490 POLICY BRIEFS- Background
• POLICY BRIEF - AB 490 IMPLEMENTATION- Transportation
• POLICY BRIEF - AB 490 IMPLEMENTATION- Partial Credit
• POLICY BRIEF - AB 490 IMPLEMENTATION- Immediate Enrollment
• POLICY BRIEF - AB 490 IMPLEMENTATION- Least Restrictive Educational Placements
• Ensuring Foster Children’s Educational Rights (PowerPoint)
• California Foster Care Education Law Fact Sheets

NEW! TIPS FOR CSU ADMISSIONS

In supporting your foster youth in their college goals, please encourage them to apply for admissions early and be mindful of the November 30, 2009 deadline. It is vital to get this information out to caretakers and foster youth early since many CSU campuses will be limiting the number of students they are admitting. Here is a checklist of activities that will be helpful in advising your youth:

• Meet the eligibility requirement for CSU admission by completing the a-g requirements (http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/subjects.asp).

• Complete an online admission application by November 30, 2009 (www.csumentor.edu).  (Application period is from October 1 – November 30)

• Submit an application fee waiver on CSUMentor (eligible students can have their application fees waived for up to 4 campuses).

• Answer the questions on the CSUMentor application as to whether they are a “foster youth, orphan or ward of the court.”

• Apply to at least 1-2 CSU campuses in the local area.

• Meet all deadlines (e.g. submission of documents like transcripts and payment of fees/deposits).

• Complete an EOP application online (http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/eop_apply.asp).

• Apply to campus support programs (e.g. Guardian Scholars and Renaissance Scholars) for each campus they are interested in attending. For a complete list of programs with live links, please visit the California College Pathways website at www.cacollegepathways.org.

• Check personal email accounts often for items the youth need to submit in order to complete their admission file. Each campus will be making admissions decisions based on information submitted by the applicants. Your assistance in securing these documents will be extremely helpful.

ABOUT FOSTER YOUTH SERVICES

In 2003 California Legislature passed AB 490 (Steinberg) Ed Code 42920-42925 which established new duties and rights related to the education of dependents and wards in foster care.

• Created the Foster Youth Services (FYS) program in California.
• Defines who is the Education Rights Holder
• Establishes protocols for placement and school changes
• Timely transfer of educational records

Foster Youth Services (FYS) is a program of the California Department of Education. The program helps to improve children's educational performance and personal achievement.

FYS programs have the flexibility to design services to meet a wide range of needs of foster youth. Services provided include: assistance in locating health and school records to establish appropriate placements and coordinate instruction; conducting transcript analysis; referrals for counseling, tutoring, mentoring, emancipation services, vocational training, and independent living; providing trainings to child welfare workers and probation officers; and offering other related services.

Each county has a FYS program coordinator. To learn more about how your county FYS program can assist a student in his or her preparation for higher education, please contact your county coordinator. Access a complete list of county FYS coordinators.