FOSTER CARE IS FAILING.

FOSTER children; EDUCATION; SCHOOL choice; CHARTER schools; CHILD welfare

The article describes the failure of foster care to help at-risk youngsters in the U.S. to transition out of state care into adulthood. It relates the poor academic performance of foster children. It suggests providing children in foster care school choice options. The problems that foster kids commonly experience in the education and child welfare systems include instability, persistent low expectations, poor adult advocacy on their behalf and inadequate life-skills training. It recommends building charter schools for foster children.