For the almost 500,000 children and youth in foster care in the United States, a quality education is vitally important. It not only provides children with a roadmap for future success, it can also serve as a positive counterweight to abuse, neglect, separation and instability.

Produced by the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education, this 14-page fact sheet provides statistics and research about the educational issues affecting children in foster care.

Topics covered include:

• National foster care data
• School placement stability and enrollment issues
• Academic outcomes
• Special education issues
• Mental, emotional and behavioral issues
• High School completion rates
• Postsecondary preparation, entrance and completion
• Social and economic issues
• Supportive factors
• Early childhood education and early intervention