This report sheds light on the persistent and troubling academic disparities faced by students in foster care—one of California’s most vulnerable and underserved student populations. Despite some gains in areas like school stability and graduation rates over the past decade, the report reveals that many educational outcomes for foster youth remain among the lowest compared to other high-need groups, with setbacks in areas such as chronic absenteeism, college readiness, and suspensions—some of which were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This new report follows up on a landmark 2013 study that first linked California’s education and child welfare data to reveal the stark educational challenges faced by K–12 students in foster care. It is the first to revisit these outcomes, assessing progress since major policy reforms intended to improve education for foster youth.

Aimed at educators, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and the broader public, this resource also examines how foster youth are often overlooked in local education plans, where support is typically grouped with broader high-need categories rather than tailored to their unique needs.