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About Us
The Education Unit is actively working with community agencies to minimize the barriers to collaborate and develop relationships that share information in an effort to jointly address the educational needs of foster children. Our Goals are to improve the learning opportunities and academic outcomes for foster children. To ensure that each child has:
- The right to remain in their School of Origin.
- The right to immediate School Enrollment, even without school and immunization records.
- The right to attend school in the least restrictive environment.
- The right to partial credit for coursework successfully completed
- The right to due process in suspension or expulsion (No child can be asked to be picked up from school for poor behavior without appropriate suspension paperwork.)
- (Youth living in group homes cannot be enrolled in Non Public Schools without an IEP.)
About our Programs
Education Unit Programs
 Education Coordinating Council (ECC) (Description-Open/Close)
The Education Coordinating Council is a collaboration of Los Angeles County leadership to develop effective ways to learn about and understand individual systems, identify the barriers that exist to effectively work together, and establish mechanisms to overcome the barriers. This new approach is focused on the academic achievement for dependent and delinquent youth. For more information, go to their website at http://www.educationcoordinatingcouncil.org
Early Childhood Education/Headstart (Description-Open/Close)
Research explains that this is a time of intense brain development, when preschoolers are interested and abundantly receptive to learning. All 4-year-old children under the supervision of DCFS have priority enrollment status and attend without cost in Head Start and LAUP (Los Angeles Universal Preschool) programs. [Head Start] - [LAUP] - [Other Early Childhood/Preschool Opportunities](description..>)
Enrichment Plus Awards (Description-Open/Close)
To celebrate academic successes, the Board of Supervisors honors youth, caregivers, and/or educators with the Enrichment Plus Awards of Merit. These formal presentations of a scroll and gift card take place quarterly, beginning in March, at the Hall of Administration. Nominations for the awards are by the Children’s Social Worker in the following three categories (Also see Fact Sheet (.doc)
- Most improved academic achievement
- Best academic achievement
- Best education alliance
Foster Youth Services (Description-Open/Close)
Through a state funded grant to Los Angeles County Office of Education, Counselors are provided to address the educational issues of youth. Accepting referrals from the Children’s Social Worker to:
- Ensure the immediate enrollment of youth into school
- Assist youth that are struggling in school and at risk of academic failure and/or dropping out of school
- Assist to navigate the special education system
- Provide support to youth achieving academic success to sustain their achievements and build on their goals
- Access and provide school and immunization records
- Address suspension/expulsion crisis to ensure due process
- Assist with the school to ensure the youth remains in the school of origin
- Assist with community based resources including tutoring programs
Counselors Review the following:
- Youths' school records and assess needs
- Discuss the youth's education goals
- Recommend assessment and services
- Interact with the schools on behalf of the youth
- Participate in an IEP meeting for special education services, as needed
- Participate in DCFS team decision meetings, as needed
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Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Partnership (Description-Open/Close)
LAUSD serves nearly 60% of DCFS children and has developed a Foster Care unit to assist in addressing educational needs within their vast system. Services provided can include:
Provide school and immunization records
Review the youths' school records and assess needs
Address concerns regarding the youth's academic progress and needs
Assess the youth's basic reading and math skills
Recommend assessment and services
Assist with the school to ensure the youth remains in the school of origin
Address suspension / expulsion crisis to ensure due process
Assist with community based resources, including tutoring programs
Discuss the youth's education goals
Interact with the schools on behalf of the youth
Participate in an IEP meeting for special education services, as needed
Participate in DCFS team decision meetings, as needed
Contact information:
Norma Sturgis, Coordinator
norma.sturgis@lausd.net
LAUSD Foster Care Unit
333 South Beaudry Avenue, 18th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 241-3848 Office
(213) 241-3305 Fax
Rosie Guzman, PSA Foster Care Counselor
(213) 241-1273 Office
No Child Left Behind – Tutoring Resource (Description-Open/Close)
On January 8, 2002 President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. This landmark in educational reform established academic standards based on standardized test scores and resources to ensure improvements. The result is up to $1500 a year for supplemental education services (TUTORING) per student, IF they are enrolled in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program and attending a Program Improvement School. Each school district has a coordinator to process the lunch and tutoring resources and provide the state-approved list of tutoring services providers. The Current list of Program Improvement schools can be accessed on the web HERE. Check at the individual school for additional information and DEADLINES for enrollment to receive tutoring services.
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