Ready to Succeed

For the Stuart Foundation, the nexus between the worlds of public education and child welfare is critically important. Both systems have the potential to improve outcomes for foster children and youth by working together more closely and effectively at the local and state levels. Ready to Succeed, launched in three California counties in 2008, is a bold, comprehensive and multi-component initiative, designed to improve education outcomes for California’s foster children and youth.

I had someone in preschool who taught me to read. Even though I can’t remember her name and can’t thank her, she saved me, because if you can read, you can catch up.

Former foster youth Jennifer Rodriguez, Staff Attorney for the Youth Law Center

Historically there has been a lack of focused and integrated attention by the child welfare and educational systems to the educational needs and potential of foster youth. The results of the fragmented approach are sadly consistent across the country. Compared with other children, foster children are more likely to:

• Have academic and behavioral problems in school
• Have higher rates of absenteeism and disciplinary referrals
• Perform below grade level and to have been held back in school
• Have not completed high school
• Fail to go on to a 4-year college
• Be placed in special education

For two years a team of dedicated child welfare and educational professionals met to delve deeply into the challenges and opportunities that exist in the child welfare and public education systems. Their collective wisdom and ideas and the recommendations that guide our work can be found in the groundbreaking report Ready to Succeed: Changing Systems to Give California’s Foster Children the Opportunities to be Ready for and to Succeed in School.

Strategies

Our primary efforts focus on creating impact and measuring results in three selected counties. We are concurrently working to create an environment for wider replication and to advocate for state policy changes that are embedded in the recommendations.  Our investments support the following activities:

• Direct service (educational liaisons)
• Data and accountability systems
• Technical assistance
• Leveraged funding
• Informing public policy
• Community engagement

Impact

By sharing data more effectively, collaborating to make school stability a reality, and giving the youngest foster children the support and intervention that give them a chance to be truly ready for school, the full implementation of Ready to Succeed strategies can positively alter the educational and adult self-sufficiency prospects for children in California’s foster care system.