Educational Champion Training

MODULE 4:

Education Records and Credits

© National Center for Youth Law, April 2013.  This document does not constitute legal advice or representation.  For legal advice, readers should

consult their own counsel.  This document may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided any reproduction is accompanied by an

acknowledgement.  All other rights reserved.

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Why Focus on Education Records and Credits?

Monitoring a child’s progress in school is a crucial component of

supporting the child’s academic success.

Monitoring progress requires knowing how to access, review, and

understand school records.

Child in foster care often encounters changes in school

placement, problems with the timely/complete transfer of school

records, and improper accounting of their course credits. This

causes them to fall behind their peers academically and increase

drop-out rates.

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Reviewing school records and report cards is an important part of supporting the child’s education.

Reviewing records and report cards will help you:

Learn about the child’s past school experiences,

Stay up-to-date on the child’s school progress,

Understand the child’s academic strengths,

Spot any areas in which the child might need help, and

Show the child that you think his/her education is important.

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Review the child’s school records.

If you don’t already have copies of the child’s school

records, ask the school to provide copies or set up a

time to review the records at the school. You must

request these in writing.

When you review the records, make a note of anything

that you don’t understand or have questions about.

Keep your copies of the child’s school records in a safe

place.

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Review the child’s report cards and reports the school provides.

Let the school know that you want to receive copies of all report

cards and other school reports. You must request these in

writing.

Always make time to talk to the child about report cards and

progress reports.

Keep all school records in a safe place where you can find them

easily.

Access the child’s grades, attendance records, and other

information through the school’s online portal.

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If you have questions about anything in the child’s school records, don’t be afraid to ask.

If you are the child’s ed rights holder:

If there is something in the child’s school records that you

don’t understand, contact the child’s teacher or school staff.

If you are concerned about the child’s grades or progress, ask

the teacher if you can set up a time to meet or talk by phone.

If you believe that something in the child’s school record is

inaccurate, misleading, or an invasion of privacy, you can

challenge the record by making a written request to the district

superintendent.

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Additional thoughts if you don’t hold ed rights.

If you don’t hold education rights for the

child, reach out to the person who does to let

him/her know that you’re interested in

reviewing the child’s records and speaking

with the child’s teacher.

If the education rights holder is the child’s

birth parent, check with the social worker for

the best way to do this.

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If the child moves to a new school placement.

Check with the school to make sure that:

The child’s records are sent to the new school, and

The child is given credit for full or partial coursework

completed.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the

school district’s foster youth liaison.

If the issue isn’t resolved right away, the child’s

attorney can also help.

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If the youth is in high school or will be starting high school soon.

Help the youth review the school’s graduation

requirements to make sure s/he is on track to

meet these requirements.

Talk to the youth about what classes to take.

Encourage the youth to talk to a school counselor

or academic advisor about graduation

requirements and course options

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Consider getting input from other adults involved in the child’s life.

Especially if the child does not live with you, you

may want to ask other adults in the child’s life for

support and feedback in making education-related

decisions.

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My Goals:

What I will do: How often I will do this:

__________________ ___________________

__________________ ___________________

__________________ ___________________

__________________ ___________________

__________________ ___________________

__________________ ___________________

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Resources.

This PowerPoint, Tip Sheets, Mentoring Modules, and supporting materials can be found at:

www.foster-ed.org.

If you have questions about the materials, please contact: info@fostered.org.

Other Resources:

AB 167 and AB 490 Factsheets, written by the California Foster Youth Education Task Force,

available at www.cfyetf.org/

AB 167: FAQs, written by the California Foster Youth Education Task Force, available at

www.cfyetf.org/

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About AB 490, written by the California Foster Youth

Education Task Force, available at www.cfyetf.org/

Credit Transfer and School Completion Q&A, written by the ABA’s Legal Center for Foster Care &

Education

High School Graduation Requirements, available at www.cde.ca.gov