Academic Fate of Foster Children Gaining More Attention

By Linda Jacobson

Although the educational needs of children in foster care have generally not received the level of attention that many experts say they should, efforts to change that situation appear to be growing around the country.

One sign of progress has been the new attempt that education and social service officials in two of the nation's urban school districts have been making to share data on such children, who often fall behind in school as they move from one home to another.

In New York City, the school district and the city's child-welfare agency recently completed a database that will allow officials to closely monitor the school attendance and academic progress of the city's more...