Reports Archive
July 01, 2010
In this edition of the California College Pathway newsletter, the achievements of more than 50 students from foster care attending the California State University, University of California, California Community Colleges and private universities from across the state are highlighted. These students have overcome both personal and academic challenges to fulfill their dream of a college education. You are invited to read how the journey of a college education has transformed their lives and the accomplishments and insights they have attained along the way.
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June 29, 2010
Although the issue of improving educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care is receiving some long-overdue attention, the voices of classroom teachers have not been prominent in the discussions. What happens in the classroom is critical for these students, as the quality of the interaction with their teacher is an important determinant of learning. In the fall of 2009, a team from the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning and funded by the Stuart Foundation convened six discussion groups to explore how teachers and foster children and youth interact in the classroom to improve educational outcomes.
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June 16, 2010
This report, one in a series to be released by the Accomplished California Teachers (ACT) forum, examines teacher evaluation. This report offers recommendations on making teacher evaluation a more useful tool to advance the quality of teaching across California.
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May 14, 2010
Georgetown Public Policy Institute’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform recently released a paper highlighting the poor educational outcomes of many of the children and youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and discusses several promising practices for the future.
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May 13, 2010
The share of children in the California foster care system has dropped by 45 percent since 2000. This decline far outpaced the rest of the nation. The authors report that a more intense focus by local and state policymakers on child-welfare issues is at least partially responsible. They also note that serious challenges remain: among them, a continuing overrepresentation of black children in foster care.
This research was supported with funding from the Stuart Foundation.
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April 30, 2010
This paper, based on interviews conducted with 12 nationally recognized researchers and other experts in education, child welfare, and related policy and practice issues, sets the groundwork for developing new research priorities for improving policies and practices related to the educational outcomes of children and youth in foster care. Collectively, these experts describe the existing research gaps that contribute to the generally dismal education outcomes of students in foster care.
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April 29, 2010
As California once again confronts a multibillion dollar budget deficit, concern has grown considerably among the state’s residents about the consequences of spending cuts on kindergarten through 12th grade education, according to an annual survey released today by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Californians today are more likely than last year to believe that funding for their local schools is inadequate, and parents of public school students are far more likely to say that state budget cuts have had a big effect on their children’s schools.
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February 01, 2010
Insights is a publication examining the links between data, policy and outcomes for our state's most vulnerable children and families. This issue of Insights provides data on outcomes as well as related policy implications for youth aging out of foster care in California. This first-ever available data includes what youth at age 18 experience and their plans for the future.
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January 01, 2010
This manual provides a information about a wealth of resources available to foster youth as they transition to adulthood. Published by the Public Counsel Law Center, the manual covers a variety of topics, such as Medi-Cal coverage (health insurance), tuition, tutoring, and scholarship opportunities.
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January 01, 2010
The Midwest Study is a collaborative effort among the public child welfare agencies in the three participating states (Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin), Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Partners for our Children at the University of Washington, and the University of Wisconsin Survey Center.
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December 09, 2009
A decade ago, establishing permanent connections for older foster youth was not a priority. The work of many has helped to change that.
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December 01, 2009
This report finds that California’s teacher development system is not adequately aligned with high school reforms that seek to increase rigor, make instruction more relevant and foster more personal and supportive learning environments for students. The research further indicates that high school teacher knowledge and skills differ substantially by school poverty level. The report also includes the latest available data on demand, supply, qualifications and distribution of the state’s K-12 teacher workforce.
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December 01, 2009
Insights is a publication examining the links between data, policy and outcomes for California's most vulnerable children and families. This issue of Insights focuses on permanency for children who are in the child welfare system.
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December 01, 2009
This Manual focuses on obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and lawful permanent residency for children through probate court guardianships. It is designed to give a step-by-step overview of the SIJS process, both in the probate court guardianship stage and the immigration service stage.
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October 01, 2009
For low-income youth, financial aid is critical to college access and success, but finding out about it at the right time and taking full advantage of it can be particularly challenging. These challenges are even greater for foster youth and former foster youth.
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September 12, 2009
The California Connected by 25 Initiative is a collaborative effort of five foundations to improve the life prospects of youth transitioning out of foster care in California. This report documents the Initiative's progress made by each of the early implementing counties in the area of Permanency.
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August 01, 2009
Insights is a new and ongoing publication that examines the links between data, policy and outcomes for California's most vulnerable children and families. This premier issue examines California's child welfare outcomes since January 2004, when the state's new outcomes and accountability system went into effect.
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August 01, 2009
Washington State’s child welfare system is in the midst of profound changes in how services are delivered and funded. Key components of these changes include converting all contracts for child welfare services to performance-based contracts, increasing the use of evidence-based services, reinvesting savings in order to sustain and expand prevention and early intervention programs, and carefully monitoring the effectiveness of reforms in order to ensure that change results in improvement. This study has determined that the Washington State Child Welfare system significantly underpays private agencies for child welfare services.
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August 01, 2009
The Coalition for Community Schools in partnership with the National Association for Secondary School Principals reviewed eight community schools (Tukwila, WA; Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Indianapolis, IN; Philadelphia, PA; and Portland, OR) to learn their effects on graduation and drop-out rates. They found rising graduation and college going rates and a decrease in drop-out rates. The report also finds that community schools strengths lie in their local communities.
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August 01, 2009
This paper reviews the elements of screening and assessment in the child welfare system, the ways in which substance use is currently detected and recorded in California, models of promising practices in screening and assessment, available materials on the effectiveness of screening and assessment practices, barriers to improvement, and recommendations for change.
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