The following Nebraska “Tool Kit” of resource materials has been developed to assist the primary systems involved in the education of children and youth in out-of-home care.  These systems may include, but are not limited to, the schools, law enforcement, County Attorneys, Guardians Ad Litem (GAL) and defense attorneys, the Courts, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and its private contractors, Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Programs, Foster Care Review Boards and foster care providers, Probation, Parole, group homes, institutions, residential programs, and mental health and substance abuse treatment providers. In addition to promoting a common understanding and knowledge about topics related to the education of students in out-of-home care, it is hoped the Systems Tool Kit will be used by members of the primary systems to advocate for and improve academic and vocational outcomes for these children and youth.

"This Tool Kit is dedicated to all children and youth in out-of-home care and the the adults who try to make their lives better"

• Uninterrupted Scholars Act On Monday, January 14, 2013, President Obama signed the Uninterrupted Scholars Act (P.L. 112-278). The Act amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) to explicitly allow educational agencies and institutions to disclose educational records to an agency caseworker or other representative of a State or local child welfare agency or tribal organization that has legal care and protection of the student in order to address the student’s education needs. Click here to read the Act.


• State Ward Statistical Snapshot was jointly released by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Nebraska Department of Education last August. Click here to read the Summary Report providing detailed aggregate data on educational outcomes of Nebraska state wards.


• Nebraska "Fostering Connections in Education" State Team Featured in National Webinar: Child Welfare, Education, and the Courts - Achieving Educational Stability Milestones through Systems Collaboration. Click here to view the archived data on educational outcomes of Nebraska state wards.


• The Foster Care Review Office Annual Report was recently released. Click here for the Annual Report; section on education begins on page 51.

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