Listening to and Raising the Voices of At-Risk and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children in Foster Care

Abstract

This article is about children in foster care and their educational problems. We define those children and present statistics as to their numbers, ages, and types of placements. We then make a case that too few individuals have listened to the voices of children in foster care or are aware of the many barriers they face. Next, we present statistics to show that they have been an overlooked group and offer reasons to account for their problems in schools. We then offer 24 ways in which teachers and other school personnel can assist these youngsters while they are in school. Throughout the article we provide comments of youths who were in foster care about their past circumstances and future aspirations, most of which are related to schools and education.