The Minnesota State Capitol Building. Source: Star Tribune

The House Education Policy Omnibus Bill (H.F.2397) and the Senate Education Bill (S.F.1889) continue to make early education and K-12 education a priority in the second year of the legislative biennium. There are various proposed changes that have the potential to make an impact on youth and families who are involved in the child welfare system. What follows is a review of three of these proposed changes.

Educational Stability

If passed, students who are placed in foster care would be eligible for continued enrollment in the school district they attended prior to their placement.

Research conducted by Casey Family Programs has found that children in foster care often lack the educational stability needed to reach their individual potential. Children who are in out-of-home care frequently have multiple placements, which often results in frequent school movements. With the inclusion of this policy change, children who are in out-of-home placements would have greater stability in their education, which has been found to be directly correlated with improved educational outcomes for children in foster care.

Early Education Scholarships

Scholarships would continue to be made available for early education programs; however, the early education programs would be required to participate in a rating system and earn a three- or four-star rating in order to accept scholarships. This would ensure that children receive high quality early education. Programs would have until July 1st, 2016, to earn this rating.

High quality early education programs are important for all children, but especially for children who are in out-of-home care. Research has shown that the period from birth to age three significantly impacts human development. The Administration for Children and Families notes that early education acts as a protective factor and helps to mitigate risk for children who are involved in the child welfare system; to be able to alleviate risk factors associated with involvement in child welfare is beneficial for all.

Transitions to Post-Secondary Education or Employment

School districts would be required to recognize the uniqueness of each and every student when assisting a student in developing a transition plan to post-secondary education and/or employment. Districts would need to incorporate “the student’s unique talents, skills, and abilities as the student grows, develops, and learns.”

This is significant because each student would receive an individualized transition plan that looks at specific strengths they have that will help them to succeed in life. While this is important for all children, it is exceptionally important for children who are set to age out of the foster care system as it will allow the school to help the student become ready to move into an independent living setting and enter college or become employed.

Current Status

The House education policy omnibus bill was sent over to the Senate on April 4th, 2014. The Senate amended and passed the bill on April 22nd, 2014. The House did not concur with the changes that the Senate made to the omnibus bill and requested a conference committee; conferees are Rep. Mariani, Rep. Brynaert, Rep. Yarusso, Rep. Sawatsky, Rep. Urdahl, Sen. Torres Ray, Sen. Clausen, Sen. Dahle, Sen. Johnson, and Sen. Nelson. As I understand, the differences between the two bills are not related to the three proposed policy changes above.