House Bill 1453 required the Children’s Division to consult with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish necessary procedures to implement the following statute: 

• “Upon request of foster family, the guardian ad litem, or the volunteer advocate and whenever possible, the child shall be permitted to continue to attend the same school that the child was enrolled in and attending at the time the child was taken into custody by the division.” (211.032.7(2), RSMo)

When possible, with the best interest of the child in mind, arranging for the child to continue to attend the same school should be discussed during the 24/72 hour Family Support Team meeting. Distance from original school may be a factor in recommending such arrangements, however, based on location of the foster family, the school district may be able to provide transportation. DESE has provided some options for the team to consider, including:

1. The school bus of the foster child’s home district travels to the home of the foster parent to pick up the child. These miles would be considered eligible miles for the school district to include in their allowable cost for state aid; 
2. The foster parent provides transportation and receives reimbursement for mileage from the school district. School districts can include this as an allowable cost for state aid; 
3. The foster parent meets the school bus at the boundary line of the school district. 
4. The school district contracts with an individual, besides the foster parent, to transport the child to their home school district. This would be an allowable cost for state aid for school districts; or 
5. The foster parent provides transportation with no reimbursement for mileage from the school district.

Please note that the law does not require schools to provide reimbursement as described above. 

When it is determined to be in the child’s best interest, the Foster Parent/Children’s Division staff should enroll the child in their new school. It is the responsibility of the new school to request transfer of records from the old school, pursuant to Sections 167.022 and 211.032.7(1) RSMo., within two business days, upon notification by the Division. 

Central Office will be distributing a letter to all foster parents explaining this legislative and policy change.