FYSCP 2026 - Legislative Report - Legislative Report

California Department of Education
Report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office:
2026 Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program Report
Executive Summary

This report is required by California Education Code (EC) Section 42923(b). For every even-numbered year, the California Department of Education (CDE) provides a report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Legislative Analyst's Office with the activities of California’s Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) and student learning outcomes of foster youth. This report includes information for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years.

For pupils in foster care, learning outcomes, there are notable improvements during this reporting period:

• Increased four-year and five-year high school graduation rates.
• Increased student attendance rates.
• Increased English language arts (ELA) proficiency rates.
• Increased Mathematics proficiency rates.
• Increased foster youth school stability rates.
• Increased Free Application for Federal Student Aid and California Dream Act Application completion rates.
• Increased college-going rates.
• Notable improvements in graduation rates across several counties.
• Decreased statewide dropout rate.
• Decreased chronic absenteeism rates.
• Decreased suspension rates.

Based on program service activities and data details provided in the following pages, this report recommends (a) securing stable funding to support district foster youth educational liaison positions, (b) amending EC Section 48853.5 to expand the statutory responsibilities of foster youth educational liaisons, (c) implementing targeted academic acceleration and restorative practices to improve student outcomes, and (d) continuing funding for the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program to sustain the statewide support infrastructure.

If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Amy Fowler, Education Programs Consultant, Student Achievement and Support Division, by phone at 916-323-5113 or by email at AFowler@cde.ca.gov.

Report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office: 2026 FYSCP Report (DOCX)