On June 23, 2016, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released joint guidance to states, school districts and child welfare agencies on the new provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for supporting children/youth in foster care. The guidance aims to assist state and local partners in understanding and implementing the new law, and to inform state and local collaboration between educational and child welfare agencies across the nation for the well-being of children in foster care.
- Foster Care Non-Regulatory Guidance (June 23, 2016)
- Dear Colleague Letter on Foster Care Guidance (June 23, 2016)
- Dear Colleague Letter on Foster Care Timelines (June 2016)
State Point of Contact
Mississippi Department of Education Point of Contact – Terissa Williams, Staff Officer III, (662) 563-9332
Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services Point of Contact – Cynthia Moore-Hardy (601) 502-7429
Foster Care Contact
The MDE request that all School District Superintendent's submit their Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts by June 15, 2024. These individuals are expected to be the initial contact for all students in care that are entering their school district. The individuals assigned will be responsible for the individual documentation and maintenance of records, completing the Best Interest Determination (BID) as needed, updating transportation plans, and foster care policy, orchestrating services, and reporting data periodically.
You may use the link below to complete your submission for Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts.
Please email your School District's Foster Care Policy and Foster Care Transportation Plans to Terissa Williams at twilliams@mdek12.org by June 28, 2024.
The American Bar Association has shared guidance and a template for the Transportation Plans and I have provided the link below for your review.
Resources