Article Summary –
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4676, aimed at ensuring foster care children have appropriate access to education. The bill makes amendments to the Michigan Foster Care and Adoption Services Act requiring that foster care children receive an education that prioritizes high school graduation requirements, allows them access to their educational records, and mandates school enrolment within five days of placement in foster care. The bill is part of a three-bill package of education reforms, the remaining two bills of which were signed by Whitmer in February, and which require the state to make annual reports on the number and educational status of foster care children, and regularly review whether foster care institutions comply with state education law.
Michigan Governor Signs Bill Promoting Education Access for Foster Care Youth
Michigan’s Democratic Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has enacted a law to prioritize education access for children in foster care. This significant move comes with the signing of House Bill 4676, a component of a three-bill package of educational reforms for foster care, introduced by Democratic State Rep. Stephanie Young on March 28.
The bill amends the Michigan Foster Care and Adoption Services Act, mandating an educational structure for foster children that focuses on high school graduation. This includes enabling foster care students to access their educational records like their counterparts outside foster care, as explained in a legislative analysis fact sheet.
It further stipulates that children must be enrolled in school within five days of foster care placement or any placement change. This decision is a response to findings that foster care children often experience lengthy delays in school enrollment.
“This milestone affirms our commitment to academic success for every Michigan child, irrespective of their situation,” Young stated. The bill also aims to prevent coursework records from disappearing and guarantees curriculum compliance with high school completion standards.
Additionally, Whitmer signed the other two bills within the foster care education reform package, H.B. 4677 and H.B. 4678 in February.
The first mandates annual reports to Michigan Legislature on foster care children numbers and their educational status, while the second requires the state Department of Education to regularly review educational services provided by foster care institutions for state law compliance.
The bills, receiving bipartisan support, passed unanimously in the Senate and with minimal opposition in the House of Representatives. Thomas Hickson, Jr., of the Michigan Catholic Conference, applauded the efforts, underlining the importance of quality education for all Michigan children.
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