High School Graduation Requirements for Foster Youth in Los Angeles Unified School District

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PUPIL SERVICES FOSTER YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM AB 216 Overview

Overview Assembly Bill 216 High School Graduation Requirements: Pupils in Foster Care Assembly Bill 490 Partial Credits Uninterrupted Scholars Act & Assembly Bill 643 Questions & Answers

Assembly Bill 216 High School Graduation Requirements: Pupils in Foster Care Effective: September 23, 2013 This law amends AB 167 Requires a school district to exempt a foster student who transfers between schools any time after the completion of the student s 2nd year of high school from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the governing board of the school district that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements, unless the school district finds that the student is reasonably able to complete the school district s graduation requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of his/her fourth year of high school. Requires a school district that determines that a foster student is reasonably able to complete the school district's graduation requirements within the student s 5th year of high school to take specified actions, including permitting the student to stay in school for a 5th year to complete the graduation requirements.

Assembly Bill 216 High School Graduation Requirements: Pupils in Foster Care Effective: September 23, 2013 If determined to be eligible for AB216 exemption based on criteria then the school must notify the student, educational rights holder, and social worker within 30 days of determining eligibility. A notification letter outlining student s eligibility and graduation requirement options must be mailed and recorded on their electronic transcript. Prohibits a school or school district from requiring/requesting that the student graduate before the end of his or her 4th year of high school, if a pupil is exempted and completes the statewide coursework requirements before the end of his or her 4th year in high school. Whenever a student is receiving special education services, the applicability of AB 216 exemption should be addressed in the student s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting.

Assembly Bill 216 High School Graduation Requirements: Pupils in Foster Care Effective: September 23, 2013 The bill would prohibit educational rights, the student's social worker, the student's probation officer, and the school or school district a transfer solely to qualify the student for an exemption. prohibit a student in foster care, the person holding school or school district from requesting The exemption shall continue to apply after the termination of the court's jurisdiction over the foster youth. Student must be informed of the affects this exemption will have on admission to a postsecondary educational institution and be informed of transfer opportunities available through the California Community Colleges. Pupils who choose to deny the AB 216 exemption, should be advised that they may accept the exemption at anytime.

California & LAUSD Graduation Requirements for Class of 2014 & 2015 Subject Area California LAUSD Social Studies 3 years 30 credits Beginning 2005-2006, all students must pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE), in addition to course requirements. English 3 years 40 credits Mathematics 2 years 20 credits Lab Science 2 years 20 credits Visual Performing Arts/Career Tech. Education 1year 10 credits (or 10 credits LOTE) Beginning 2009-2010, eligible disabled students with an IEP or Section 504 plan are exempt from the CAHSEE graduation requirement. Electives 0 75 credits Applied Technology 0 10 credits PE 2 years 20 credits Health 0 5 credits Totals 13 courses 230 credits

AB 216 Flow Chart

Forms & Letters for AB 216 REF Guide 5679.1 (DRAFT) Includes the following attachments: AB 216 Notification Letters AB 216 Notification Letter AB 216 Exemption Letter AB 216 No Exemption Letter AB 216 5th Year Letters will be available in your toolkit

Determining a School Transfer Transfer between schools is defined by enrollment in a different high school with a separate location code, site, or district. View enrollment history on MyData and MiSIS

Partial Credits AB 490 & Bulletin 787.1 Schools must award foster youth full or partial credit for coursework satisfactorily completed at another public school, a juvenile court school, a non-public, or a non-sectarian school. Once a student leaves a school, the school circulates the clearance form to each teacher on the student s class schedule. Checkout marks shall be determined as of the student s last day of actual in-seat attendance. There shall be no reduction in marks due to absences associated with the student s change in placement or verified presence at court hearings or other court- mandated activity. EC 49069.5 (h)

Calculation of Partial Credits Calculation of Partial Credits 12 hours of instruction is equivalent to 1 credit (the number of hours is based on a 60 minute hour) Hours of Instruction Number of Credits 12 23 Hours 1 24 35 Hours 2 36 47 Hours 3 45 54 Hours 4 55 - 60 Hours 5

Uninterrupted Effective January 14, 2013 Uninterrupted Scholars Act Effective January 14, 2013 Scholars Act Amends Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (Also see AB 643 effective January 1, 2014, which amends California Education Code) The new amendment permits school districts to release education records to child welfare agencies (i.e., Department of Children and Family Services without prior consent of the parents). Eliminates the requirements that education agencies notify parents before records are released. A school can release records to a 3rd party listed on a court order, such as the child welfare agency or caseworker, caretaker, child s attorney, or court appointed special advocate (CASA).

THANK YOU QUESTIONS?

Pupil Services Erika Torres Director, Pupil Services La Shona Jenkins Coordinator, Foster Youth Achievement Program (213) 241-3844 lashona.jenkins@lausd.net