FOSTER CARE LIAISON

Senate Bill 291, enacted in 2009, created sections 167.018 and 167.019 RSMo, otherwise known as the “Foster Care Education Bill of Rights.”

These laws require public school districts and child-placing agencies to ensure that foster children do not fall through the cracks when it comes to receiving an education.

Section 168.018, RSMo, requires each school district to designate a staff member as the educational liaison for children in foster care. In the Fair Grove R-X School District, the educational liaison for foster care children is Dr. Kayce Knaup (417.759.2555 ext. 213, knaupk@fgsmail.org)

Acting in an advisory capacity, the educational liaison is required to:

  1. Ensure and facilitate the proper educational placement, enrollment in school and checkout from school of foster children;

  2. Assist foster care students when transferring from one school or district to another, by ensuring proper transfer of credits, records and grades;

  3. Request school records of a foster care student pursuant to section 167.022, within two business days of a foster care student’s placement in a school; and

  4. Submit school records of foster care students within three business days of receiving a request for a foster care student’s records.

Section 167.019, RSMo, requires a child-placing agency, as defined in section 210.481, RSMo, to promote the educational stability of foster children.