Breaking Barriers: Addressing Educational Challenges of Foster Youth

Ryan, J. B., Hurley, Z., & Randall, K. N. (2025). Addressing the Educational Needs of Foster Children. Beyond Behavior, 0(0).

Introduction

Foster children often face many challenges in school, typically as a result of poorly resourced schools, frequent family relocations, trauma, and lack of adequate support during their transition into adulthood. A new study by Clemson University professor, Joseph Ryan et al. (2025) examines these challenges, providing valuable recommendations to improve academic outcomes for children in the foster care system.

The authors emphasize that children in the foster care system have a significantly lower educational attainment in comparison to their peers, highlighting disproportionate hardships. For instance, they are more likely to experience academic retention and chronic absenteeism in school. Among the estimated 400,000 children in the foster care system, between 33% to 50% receive special education services. Furthermore, only 50% graduate high school, while no more than 11% go on to earn a bachelor’s degree. The profound, long-term effects of these challenges include homelessness, unemployment, and a higher risk of involvement in the criminal justice system. 

Methods

To understand these issues, the authors review national data on school mobility, special education enrollment, long-term academic outcomes, and policy analyses of federal protections such as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). They also conduct case studies to expand on their findings, including the story of Kaylin, a youth in the foster care system who navigated multiple school transitions while experiencing homelessness and neglect, both at home and at school. 

Results

The results of this analysis paint a stark picture, with 95% of foster youth experiencing at least one unscheduled school change per year. These instances often lead to gaps in learning, emotional distress, and social isolation, highlighting the psychological toll of these disruptions in education. Furthermore, foster youth experience significantly higher rates of mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, which can play a pivotal role in their educational attainment and success. 

Discussion

Suggested interventions to support students in the foster care system include urging educators to implement trauma-informed teaching practices, ensuring communication between school administration and child welfare agencies, coordination of services such as special education programs and college counseling, and adopting mentoring programs and goal-setting techniques. Mentoring programs emerge as a crucial intervention in addressing the academic and emotional needs of foster youth, helping to mitigate some of the challenges associated with school instability and trauma. 

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