Date of Award
8-2017
Culminating Project Type
Starred Paper
Degree Name
Special Education: M.S.
Department
Special Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Bradley Kaffar
Second Advisor
J. Michael Pickle
Third Advisor
Semya Hakim
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
foster care students, special education foster care
Abstract
This paper examines the research literature on the school performance of students in foster care, and the implications for special education teachers in providing services for these vulnerable students. Students in foster care fall behind their peers on every measure of school success: academic achievement scores, behavioral referrals and disciplinary actions, identification as special education students, grade retention and graduation rates. Factors that contribute to school failure for foster students include multiple school transfers, attending low-performing schools, disrupted attendance, unmet need for mental health services, unsatisfactory communication between school and child welfare professionals, and high rates of poverty among foster care students. Special education teachers of foster care students need to work with a complex network of child welfare professionals, advocating for the needs of students and collaborating with school staff and outside agencies to serve the multiple needs of students in foster care.
Recommended Citation
Segermark, Dawn R., "Students in Foster Care at Risk of School Failure: Addressing Multiple Needs" (2017). Culminating Projects in Special Education. 52.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/sped_etds/52
Comments/Acknowledgements
Special thanks to my committee members:
Bradley Kaffar, Chairperson
J. Michael Pickle
Semya Hakim