Foster children in Connecticut are frequently uprooted from their schools when they are removed from their families or shuffled between foster homes or institutions. These frequent school changes are traumatic for foster children, and can have devastating short- and long-term effects on the education of foster children. School stability for foster children is better for educators and less expensive for schools.
Several states have taken the lead in promoting school stability for foster children. Connecticut should follow other states in enacting legislation that would allow foster children to remain in their home schools, as long as it is in their best interest. This program would be relatively inexpensive and could likely be funded through current outlays. In addition, a new federal law requires Connecticut to plan for school stability for foster children.
