Students in foster care are a highly mobile student population, and, as a result, students in foster care often realize academic outcomes that lag behind those of their peers. Title I, Part A (Title I-A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, includes requirements that intend to minimize, to the extent possible, school placement changes for students in foster care. This session will unpack the Title I-A educational stability requirements and highlight opportunities for improving academic outcomes for students in foster care. This session will also spotlight State and district implementation practices from across the country and helpful resources for practitioners.

Nicole Herron is an IPA Federal Policy Fellow for the U.S. Department of Education. She also serves as the Senior Director of Programs for Treehouse, Washington state’s leading organization focused on educational and other essential supports for youth experiencing foster care. With over a decade of nonprofit leadership and program development experience she excels in building scalable youth-centered programs. Nicole has a BA in Leadership & Sustainable Business from Antioch University and has dedicated her career to advocating for education equity and community development.
Bryan Thurmond is an education program specialist in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. In this role, Bryan works on programs for students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care. Prior to joining the Department in 2014 as a Presidential Management Fellow, Bryan began his career as Pre-kindergarten teacher in Prince George's County, Maryland. Bryan holds a Master's degree in early childhood curriculum and instruction and a Juris Doctorate (JD).