Overview
Effective January 1, 2004, AB 490
establishes legislative intent that foster youth are ensured access to the same opportunities to meet academic achievement standards to which all students are held, maintain stable school placements, be placed in the least restrictive educational placement and have access to the same academic resources, services and extracurricular and enrichment activities as all other children. AB 490 also made clear that education and school placement decisions are to be dictated by the best interests of the child.
Foster youth who reside in a home that is only temporary also qualify as “homeless” under the provisions of the federal McKinney-Vento Act. If you believe your student might be homeless please see the homeless pages on this website.
The San Diego Unified School District provides schools with materials that help explain students rights under AB490 and the McKinney-Vento Act. Here are the key points:
- Parents:
To learn more, read the AB 490 Summary. If you have questions or wish to access services, please contact your local school or call the Homeless Liaison’s Office at 619-725-8169. To learn about some of the special supports available for your child/youth, see the “Services” and “Community Resources” sections below.
- Staff:
To learn more, read AB 490 Summary. If you have questions or wish to access services, please contact the Homeless Liaison’s Office at 619-725-8169.
For enrollment procedures, consult Administrative Procedure No. 6129, “Enrollment of Children and Youth in Transition (aka Homeless)
.” In Zangle, youth in foster care should have a residence code of either FH (Foster Family Home) or FG (Foster Group Home). See Zangle KnowledgeBase #518.Learn more about how to verify residency and/or to authorize a caregiver, consult Administrative Circular No. 10, “Verification of Residence for Enrollment Purposes.”
To request public transportation passes/tokens to allow a student to return to his/her “school of origin” complete the “Transportation Request for a Child/Youth in Transition.”
To allow a student in foster care to participate in the District’s free and reduced-price lunch program, it is necessary to have a parent/guardian/caregiver complete the application for the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program. However, the student qualifies for the program as a family of one. The foster parents income is not included on the application.
Services
Students who are in foster care are eligible to receive services that are comparable to those received by children who are homeless including, when appropriate, transportation services to/from their school of origin, Title 1 supplemental educational services, special education services, English language services, gifted and talented services, and meals through school meals programs. Please contact your school to determine which services/supports are right for your child.
Most special supports/services will be provided at least through the remainder of the current academic year—or until you find the foster child/youth is in a regular foster care placement—whichever is later. If you’d like to discuss your situation confidentially, you may call the Office of Children/Youth in Transition (Liaison) at 619-725-8169 or contact the Liaison via email at phosmer@sandi.net.
- Foster Youth Services (FYS)
Part of the San Diego County Office of Education, FYS can provide support in securing educational records and/or advocating for a foster child/youth. (858) 503-2620. - Foster Youth Liaison’s Office Liaison Contact List
When coordinating the transfer of student records or services between school districts within San Diego County it may be helpful to contact each school district’s Liaison. - Foster Youth in San Diego County
Contact Information
Office of Children and Youth in Transition
Eugene Brucker Education Center
4100 Normal Street, Annex 14
San Diego, Ca 92103
(619) 725-8169
Key Contacts
Pamela Hosmer
Liaison for Children/Youth in Transition
phosmer@sandi.net
(619) 725-8169
