Asking about the educational objectives for children in foster care has not been a priority in most juvenile and family courts. Research has shown that compared to the general school population, children in foster care have lower grade point averages, change schools more frequently, earn fewer credits toward graduation, and are more likely to be placed in special education programs.
In response, Casey Family Programs, in collaboration with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Permanency Planning for Children Department, developed a Judicial Checklist with key educational questions to be asked from the bench.
This updated version of the checklist is a useful tool for juvenile and family court judges who are assessing the effectiveness of current educational placements of the children who come before their courts, tracking their performance and in making a positive future impact on their educational outcomes. The publication includes laminated checklists for judges' desk books.