Foster Youth Educational Rights
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Right to Remain in School of Origin
- When a home placement change occurs, a foster child is allowed to remain in his/her school of origin while under the jurisdiction of the court.
- If a foster child exits foster care mid-year they are allowed to remain in his/her school of origin for the duration of the school year.
- High school students whose court jurisdiction terminates while they are in high school, can remain in their School of Origin through graduation.
- If the home placement is out of county, an inter-district transfer is required; however, school placement will not be delayed.
Right to Immediate Enrollment
- SFUSD will enroll a foster child immediately even if the foster child is unable to produce records or clothing normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, medical records, proof of residency, other documentation, or school uniforms.
- To ensure a student’s appropriate school placement, we encourage all relevant documents be provided at the time of enrollment.
Right to Partial Credits for High School Students
- If you change schools during the school year, you have a right to partial credits in all classes that you are passing when you leave your old school, even if you do not complete the entire class.
- After you change schools, your new school must accept any partial credits issued by your old school.
- After you change schools, you have the right to be enrolled in the same or similar classes you were enrolled in at your last school.
Graduation Rights
- If you are behind on your credits, and you transferred schools after your 2nd year of high school, you may be eligible to graduate under Assembly Bill (AB) 167/216 by completing only the state graduation requirements (130 credits in specific classes) instead of your school district’s requirements.
School Discipline Rights
In accordance with EC 48853.5 a School Administrator must notify: the Educational Rights Holder, Protective Services Worker, Student’s Attorney, and Tribal Social Worker (if applicable) regarding disciplinary action.
College Rights
- You have the right to have the application fee waived when you apply to a community college in California.
- You have the right to receive the maximum amount of federal student aid and you may be eligible for up to $5,000 per year from the Chafee scholarship.
Right to School Records
- You have the right to access your school records if you are sixteen years or older or have finished grade ten.
- Your social worker/probation officer and ERH can access your school records as well.
- Your caregiver can access your current school records.
Learn more about the rights of youth in care: Link to this section
- See the SFUSD Student and Family Handbook
- Visit the CA Department of Education Website
- Check out the Foster Youth Bill of Rights
CA Foster Care Ombudsperson
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Who to Contact About My Rights
The California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving foster youth in California by investigating and resolving complaints about foster youth rights, care, placement, and services.
This page was last updated on June 12, 2026