Foster youth in California face significant challenges in education outcomes compared to their peers. They experience much higher rates of school changes (33% attending two or more schools in a year vs 7% of all students), absenteeism (over a third being chronically absent vs 14% of all students), suspensions (1.2% vs 0.2% suspended), and underperformance on standardized tests. They also have lower high school graduation rates (56% vs 84% for all students) and higher dropout rates (8% vs 3% for all students). Individuals can help close these gaps by becoming resource parents, contributing financially to foster youth education, or volunteering time and energy.

1. The Education Outcomes
of California Foster Youth
Alternative Family Services, August 2022

2. Introduction
There are over 50,000 foster youth in California,
according to data from the Annie E. Casey
Foundation. And consistently, California foster
youth lag behind their peers when it comes to key
education outcomes like high school graduation
and college attendance.
Let's dive into the problem and discuss what you can
do to help.

3. School Stability
According to the Alliance of Children's Rights, a third
of all foster youth attend two or more schools in a
single year – compared to 7% of all students
nationwide.

4. School Stability
According to data from the California Department of
Education, over 92% of all youth in California are in a
"stable" school environment, while the same is true
for less than 72% of all foster youth in the state.

5. Chronic
Absences
Around 14% of all youth in the state are deemed
"chronically absent," according to data from the
California Department of Education, while the same is
true for over a third of all California foster youth.

6. Suspension Rates
Around 1.2% of all foster youth in California were suspended (including
in-school and out of school) at one point during the last school year,
according to data from the California Department of Education, as
opposed to just 0.2% for youth overall statewide.

7. Test Scores
Percent of students who score at
a level proficient or above on
the California Assessment of
Student Performance and
Progress in English language arts:
• 44% of all youth statewide
• 19% of California foster youth
Percent of students who score at
a level proficient or above on
the California Assessment of
Student Performance and
Progress in math:
• 33% of all youth statewide
• 12% of California foster youth
Source: Alliance for Children's Rights

8. High School Graduation and Dropout Rates
According to the Alliance of Children's Rights, the dropout rate for California foster youth is
8%, as compared to 3% for high schoolers across the state.
Further, 84% of high school students statewide graduate from high school, while only 56% of
California foster youth do too.

9. How You Can Help California
Foster Youth Close The
Education Gap

10. How You Can
Help California
Foster Youth
Close The
Education Gap
• Become a Resource Parent!
• Contribute financially to a foster youth's education
• Volunteer your time and energy