Addressing the Educational Needs of Foster Children

Currently more than 400,000 youth are placed in foster care across the United States. Between 33% and 50% of these children receive special education services. Nearly half of foster care youth with disabilities are identified as having emotional and behavioral disorders, in part due to their exposure to maltreatment including neglect, substance abuse, physical, and sexual abuse. In this article, we review common challenges students in foster care face and offer recommendations to help improve their academic outcomes.