In the 2022-2023 school year, Ohio had 16,519 students in foster care. Foster care is defined as 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians for whom a custodial agency has placement and care responsibility. A child can be removed from their home and placed into custody of a custodial agency through an official court order or emergency intervention by law enforcement. A “custodial agency” is a public children service agency or Title-IV juvenile court. A child placed in foster care could live in a foster family home, foster home of relatives, group home, emergency shelter, residential facility, childcare institution or pre-adoptive home. 

To support students in foster care, the Every Student Succeeds Act provides that all traditional public school districts and community schools: 

  • Designate a foster care education liaison, 
  • Allow students in foster care to remain in their school when it is in their best interest, 
  • Immediately enroll and transfer records when the determination is that it is in the student’s best interest to enroll in a new district, and 
  • ​Coordinate school transportation for students in foster care when necessary. 
Training Opportunity:

Every Student Succeeds Act: Serving Students in Foster Care and Students Experiencing Homelessness

State coordinators from the Ohio Department of Education will explain the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. This presentation is open to all school personnel. We encourage all liaisons and those who serve to support enrollment, wellness and the academic success of students experiencing homelessness and students in the foster care system to join one of the webinar opportunities. Register by clicking your preferred date below:

Finding a Local School District Foster Care Liaison

The Ohio Educational Directory System (OEDS) has the name, phone number and email of each local school district foster care liaison in Ohio. A local school district foster care liaison is required in every district, and that staff member can collaborate with child welfare agencies to ensure the educational stability of youth in foster care.

To access the information for a foster care liaison, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the OEDS Directory
  2. Search the school district name and then click on the district.
  3. Once on the district’s page, select “personnel” from the top search bar.
  4. In “Roles Available to this Organization,” search: Foster Care Contact – ESSA.
Email fostercare@education.ohio.gov for assistance with finding your local foster care liaison's contact information.
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Last Modified: 12/1/2023 3:39:21 PM