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DATA POWER: COLLECTING AND SHARING EDUCATION AND CHILD
WELFARE INFORMATION TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE
LCFCE Conference Call August 13, 2008
“Data” Defined
Data = Information [Education] Statistical & Student Level
Statistical Level – national/subcategories Not personally identifiable
Student Level - individual Education Records Personally identifiable
Aggregate = All Children (national/state) Disaggregate = Subset (kids in care)
Why is Data Important:Statistical Level
Indentify systemic problems Develop effective policies & priorities
Reduce barriers to educational success Increase accountability
Substantiate need for funding Increase and target $$
Educate everyone and facilitate collaboration among multiple systems Educate agencies about the children they serve
Why Is Data ImportantStudent Level
Individual educational needs of child Critical to well being Triggers prompt intervention Informs other decisions (e.g.,
placement and transition goals) Enhances and improves delivery of
services
Data Disconnect Limited Information Available
No National Statistics Few Statewide Studies Limited Regional/Local Studies
However, those studies consistently indicate that children in care are educationally at risk and in crisis
What We KnowEducational CRISIS
Only one-third of students in substitute care receive a regular diploma within four years;
Twice as likely to drop out; 2-4 times as many youth in out-of home care have
repeated grades compared to their non-foster care peers;
Score significantly below their peers on standardized tests, have lower reading levels and lower grades in core academic subjects
Greater absenteeism
What We Need To Know Beyond geographic snapshots Extent of the problem Longitudinal data tracking children over
time Statistically significant factors contributing
to educational failure Eg., multiple school changes; type of placement;
length of stay; discipline rates What is working
Trauma informed curriculum; positive behavioral supports
What is Being Collected, By Whom and to What End?
Education and Child Welfare:
What is the purpose of the data collection? Where/how is the information maintained? How is it currently being used? What data relates to the educational outcomes of
children in care? How could it be revised/expanded to improve
educational outcomes for children in care? How could it be shared across systems?
Identifying Children in Care
Only Child Welfare Knows Possible Solutions:
Residency Codes: Enrollment status Student Identification Numbers: Child
welfare maintains Student ID Nos. in case files & supplies list to education
Data Matching: Match Name/DOB with Education’s Unique Student Identifier
What is Education Collecting
NCLB: No Child Left Behind Act . . . .
Collects Critical Information in ALL States
Electronically Maintained
Student Identification Numbers
No Child Left Behind Act Passed in 2002; reauthorized the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.
Purpose: Improve educational performance and eliminate the achievement gap between groups of students. Requires States to implement accountability systems at the State, school district and school level.
Understanding NCLB
Students attending Title I schools designated “in need of improvement” for two consecutive years have opportunity to transfer to new school in the same district
Low income students attending Title I schools designated as failing for at least three of four prior years, must receive “supplemental educational services”
Students who attend persistently dangerous schools, or who have been victimized by school violence, must be allowed to transfer to a safer school in the district
What Data Does Education Collect Under NCLB? Attendance: Days “absent without
excuse” and days enrolled in school School Enrollment: Tracks student
mobility, enrollment delays & grade level designation at time of enrollment
Academic Progress* Standardized scores Special Education* Disability & Services Program Template: Participation in
remedial & other programs (Title I, HS) * = May be separate State data system
Student Template Data Gender Race/Ethnicity Student Status – Court placed “or” alt ed. Economic status (Free/Reduced Lunch Program) Educationally Disadvantaged under Career and
Technical Education programs: Plan 504 Indicator LEP Participation/English Proficiency/Language
Breakdown/Language/ Home Language Code Courses – Advanced courses only Grade retention Expected Graduation, Graduation Status Code &
Type of Diploma Expected Post Graduate Activity
What Could Education Collect Prompt Enrollment (FL example) Truancy Rates under State Law School Performance (San Diego) Special Education Data - Expanded Academic Progress – Expanded Program Data – Vocational & ESY Course Enrollment Credit Transfers Discipline Higher Ed Data
Longitudinal Data Under NCLB NCLB strongly endorses the use of
longitudinal data: “Each State may incorporate the data from
assessments into longitudinal data systems that link student test scores, length of enrollment and graduation records over time.” Title I Part A Sec. 111(b)3(B)
U.S. Dept. of Ed provides funding to states to develop systems to link records over time OR to identify best educational practices
NCLB State Data Collection
45 states have developed a statewide “student identifier” that connects student-specific data across key databases and across years.
18 states have data systems which align PreK-12 and post-secondary education systems to track students through their post-secondary careers.
What’ s In YOUR State
Data Quality Campaign http://
www.dataqualitycampaign.org/survey_results/index.cfm
Education Commission of the States http://mb2.ecs.org/reports/Report.aspx?i
d=913
What Does Child Welfare Collect
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act 42 U.S.C.A. 675(1)(C) & (5)(D)
Requires that child welfare agency case plans include the most recent information available regarding education records of child
Duty to review and update Duty to supply to every foster parent/provider Must consider education in making placement
decisions
Child & Family Service Reviews42 U.S.C.A. 1320a-2a
Well-Being Outcome 2, states: “Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.” 34 states NOT is substantial conformity
Availability of school records is a factor in determining whether a state child welfare agency is meeting the educational needs of a child
AFCARS (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System)
45 C.F.R. 1355.40 Semi-annual Currently, only ONE question of 66
even mentions education (re visual impairment)
Proposed Amendments to AFCARS: Learning or developmental disability Special education Repeated Grade: if so, how many
What Could Child Welfare Collect
Whether living placement resulted in school change & re-enrollments
Special Ed: early intervention; evaluations requested/conducted; services delivered as child moves; type of learning/devp’l disability
Early Childhood Education Headstart/other programs: what age & how long
What Could Child Welfare Collect
Type of educational placement: public school, on-ground school, alternative education
School completion element: Including WHY child dropped out
Transition Readiness: level of education, life skills training, plans
Sharing Data & Information Across Systems
Real and Perceived Barriers:
Child Welfare Laws: CAPTA 42 U.S.C. 5106 (A)(B)(2) & (A)(B)(A) State laws must protect confidentiality of
child welfare records & specify when and with whom records may be shared
State statues may authorize info. sharing Permits sharing of info. with gov’t agency
to protect child from abuse/neglect
Education Laws: FERPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act
20 U.S.C. § 1233g; 34 CFR Part 99
Purpose: to protect privacy interests of parents and students regarding the students’ education records
Parent’s right to share or refuse to share records
Exceptions to parental consent
When Can Education Records Be Shared with Child Welfare:
Is It An Education Record? Directory Information? If It Qualifies:
Parent consents Parental Consent Form (time of placement)
Child Welfare Agency may meet FERPA definition of parent (acting in place of parent)
State law authorizing disclosure OR FERPA Exceptions to consent
FERPA Exceptions to Consent: Research “Specifically authorized by Federal Law” Officials and authorities indicated by state
statute for purposes of improving JJ system’s ability to serve the student
Appropriate persons when release of information is needed to comply with judicial order or subpoena
Sharing Information To Improve Educational Outcomes
Education -> Child Welfare
Child Welfare –>Ed Joint Research Common Data System
Accessed by Multiple Agencies (with varying levels of accessibility)
Examples of Data Collection & Information Sharing
Florida Department of Education
Utah California
Los Angeles Education Coordinating Council
San Diego Pennsylvania Your State Here