Dive Brief:
- Foster Ed: Arizona is asking state legislators to expand a pilot program that pairs foster children with "education champions," who monitor their progress and make sure they get access to the education resources they need.
- According to proponents of the program, children in foster care are typically behind their peers academically and have higher dropout rates.
- The program currently services 200 students in Pima County, and Foster Ed: Arizona hopes the State Department of Child Safety will hire 19 employees to expand the program statewide.
Dive Insight:
Foster students fall in at-risk categories at schools, so ensuring the necessary structures are in place for success is a must. Ideally, the program keeps the student with the same "education champion" even if they move from home to home. This ensures some semblance of stability, which is key to success. While having a mentor is great, having a mentor who is also your education advocate is even better.