May is National Foster Care Month

Approximately 46,000 foster youth attend our schools in California. This is a time to recognize that we can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. We hope that you will join the California Department of Education (CDE) in raising awareness of the needs of our state's foster youth.

Students in foster care represent one of the most vulnerable and academically at-risk groups enrolled in California schools. The CDE monitors the educational outcomes for foster youth and partners with multiple state agencies and nonprofit organizations to ensure these students receive the support and services they need. Please see the CDE Foster Youth in California—Information, Resources, and Educational Outcomes web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sg/fosteryouth.asp for more information.

The CDE also administers the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Programs (FYSCPs) through county offices of education to provide support services to foster children who suffer the traumatic effects of displacement from family and schools and multiple placements in foster care. These FYSCPs have the ability and authority to ensure that health and school records are obtained to establish appropriate placements and coordinate instruction, counseling, tutoring, mentoring, vocational training, emancipation services, training for independent living, and other related services. The FYSCPs increase the stability of placements for foster youth. These services are designed to improve the children's educational performance and personal achievement, directly benefiting them as well as providing long-range cost savings to the state. For more information, please see the CDE Foster Youth Services web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/fy/.

If you have any questions regarding foster youth, please contact Mindi Parsons, Education Administrator, Professional Learning Support and Monitoring Office, at 916-319-0505 or mparsons@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

TT:ko

Last Reviewed: Monday, February 03, 2025

Recently Posted in Letters

2027 California Schools to Watch Program (added 13-May-2026)
Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle School Principals regarding an invitation to apply for the 2027 California Schools to Watch program.
AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff Webinar (added 13-May-2026)
Letter to county and district superintendents, charter school administrators, and school principals regarding Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month kickoff webinar: Living History at Angel Island Immigration Station.
Invitation to SSPI's Literacy Leadership Summit (added 12-May-2026)
Letter to county and district superintendents and charter school administrators regarding an invitation to State Superintendent Thurmond's Literacy Leadership Summit.
Reminder: Graduates’ Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia (added 23-Apr-2026)
Joint letter from the California Department of Education and the California Department of Justice regarding a reminder of graduates’ rights to wear tribal regalia.
Reminder: Graduates’ Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia (added 22-Apr-2026)
Joint letter from the CDE and California Department of Justice to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals reminding them of graduates’ rights to wear tribal regalia.

Celebration of California State Student Authors (added 03-Apr-2026)
Letter regarding the Celebration of California State Student Authors.
Approved List of Screening Instruments for TK (added 27-Mar-2026)
Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the approved list of screening instruments for Transitional Kindergarten Multilingual Learners.
Upcoming Observance of Farmworkers Day (added 26-Mar-2026)
Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the upcoming observance of Farmworkers Day on March 31, 2026.
2026 Workplace Readiness Week (added 26-Mar-2026)
Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding Workplace Readiness Week.
Supporting Student Mental Health (added 24-Mar-2026)
Joint letter from the California Department of Education, the California Department of Health Care Services, and the California Health and Human Services Agency to colleagues regarding supporting student mental health.