Best Interest Determination

ESSA requires that State Education Agencies (SEAs) provide assurances that: students in foster care enroll or remain in the school of origin unless there is a determination that it is not in his or her best interest to attend the school of origin. The best interest determination must be based on all relevant factors, including appropriateness of the current educational setting and proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.

See ESEA § 1111(g)(1)(E) and EC § 48850(a)(1).

Also see Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) page

Documents

Best Interest Determination (BID) Joint Letter

Guidance from the CDE and CDSS, Revised March 2021

Best Interest In School of Origin Decisions: A Checklist for Decision Making

(Adapted from the San Diego County Interagency Agreement for Providing Educational Support to Students in Foster Care And the Texas Homeless Education Office)

Foster Youth Education Toolkit

See Best Interest Determination Procedures & Worksheet

All County Letters and Notices


ACIN I-05-21 (February 2, 2021)

Educational Stability and Best Interest Determination