Join WestEd experts at the California Foster Youth Education Summit on April 7 – 8, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency in Orange County, CA.
The Summit allows educators to come together to share success strategies, explore creative solutions, and empower youth in care to shape their educational future.
WestEd Presentation
Revisiting the Invisible Achievement Gap: Education Outcomes of Foster Youth and District Targeting of Funds in the Context of the Local Control Funding Formula
This workshop will examine a mixed-methods project that updates and expands the pivotal Invisible Achievement Gap study conducted a decade ago. Researchers will present their updated research examining education experiences and outcomes for foster youth, describing what’s changed and what’s still needed to improve student outcomes. In addition, you will explore the research team’s analysis of Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) to highlight detailed information about funding amounts and uses targeting students in foster care. To complement the findings, the session will feature key policy, practitioner and youth voices to provide insight on opportunities and priorities for policy and practice improvements, including on how educational services specifically for students in foster care are funded. Presenters look forward to learning from attendee wisdom as well. You will walk away with the report as well as ideas for advocacy in your local community and statewide.
Date & Time: Monday April 7, 2025 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Speakers: Vanessa Barrat and Kenwyn Derby
Featured Speakers
Kenwyn Derby, Senior Research Associate
Derby has experience with needs assessment, applied research, training, and facilitation with focus on supporting the whole child and their families so they may succeed in school and beyond.
Vanessa Ximenes Barrat, Senior Research Associate
Barrat’s expertise is to provide research-based evidence to inform policy and practice specifically related to the education outcomes of students in foster care, disconnected and opportunity youth, and first-generation and low income students.
Don’t miss out on this exciting conversation!