LEAVE ONE LIGHT ONA movement of hope and practical compassion
Menu

Research & learning

Education Outcomes

A plain-language evidence guide from Leave One Light On.

Reviewed July 2026 · U.S. scope

What is the issue?

Students in foster care may experience school changes, record delays, transportation barriers, lost credits, trauma, and changes in adult support. These disruptions can affect attendance, progress, graduation, and postsecondary planning.

Why does it matter?

School can be a source of stability. Federal education law includes protections intended to support school stability and immediate enrollment for students in foster care.

What does current evidence say?

The U.S. Department of Education maintains state foster-care points of contact and guidance on education stability, agency collaboration, data sharing, career and technical education, and transition planning. NYTD also collects education-related outcomes from current and former foster youth.

What is one meaningful step I can take today?

Turn learning into one practical action.

Find your state education foster-care point of contact and ask the school district who serves as the local foster-care liaison.

Sources

Source links are provided so readers can inspect the underlying publication or dataset. Summaries are educational and do not represent a government agency or an advocacy position.