What back-to-school season reveals about youth in foster care — and the attendance crisis

Back-to-school season is supposed to mean excitement: new teachers, new goals and the comfort of reuniting with classmates. But for too many foster youth, it means stepping into yet another unfamiliar classroom — often after being moved to a new placement.

These frequent school changes aren’t just inconvenient. They compound one of the biggest challenges facing schools and youth programs today: chronic absenteeism. Across the country, student attendance has yet to recover from the pandemic, and foster youth — already among the most mobile and vulnerable students — are at even greater risk of falling behind.

Nationally, children in foster care are more likely to miss school, repeat a grade and ultimately drop out compared to their peers. Each move disrupts academics and weakens connections to peers and mentors. And the instability that starts in child welfare echoes across education, mental health and long-term opportunity.

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Take the experience of Nita Nwakuche who spent her childhood in foster care and moved more than 18 times before turning 19. Each move meant another new school, another set of teachers who didn’t know her story and another chance to slip further behind. Nita didn’t just need notebooks and pencils — she needed stability and a coordinated network of adults who could help her stay connected to school.

That’s where youth development professionals come in. Connections matter. A National Institute of Health study found that foster youth who stayed in the same school after a placement change were more likely to succeed academically. Caregivers who are trained to navigate education systems can advocate effectively for their children. Out-of-school time providers who understand the unique stressors of foster youth can create safe spaces where belonging and confidence grow.

Schools alone cannot solve chronic absenteeism. Neither can child welfare agencies or foster parents on their own. Nor can out-of-school time programs. But together — with intentional collaboration — professionals across systems can make a measurable difference.

Here’s what that can look like:

• Partner directly with caregivers on attendance. Encourage caregivers to notify afterschool staff when placement changes happen so students don’t fall off the radar. A quick call can prevent weeks of missed programming and programs often have resources to help keep young people engaged.
• Advocate for schools and programs as the anchor during transitions. When possible, advocate for policies and transportation solutions that allow foster youth to remain in their school of origin. For a child, one consistent classroom or program can be the difference between progress and another setback.
• Provide consistent check-ins. Youth workers are often the first to notice patterns of missed days. Build in quick, informal attendance check-ins and coordinate with schools to intervene early.
• Connect youth to resources beyond academics. Attendance struggles are often symptoms of unmet needs — housing instability, trauma, lack of transportation. Out-of-school time providers can play a critical role by linking families to food, counseling or community support.
• Include foster youth voices. Alumni of the system know what supports would have kept them connected. Embedding their perspectives ensures interventions are grounded in reality.

As both the executive director of the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina and a foster parent myself, my husband and I have welcomed more than 30 children into our home and adopted five. I’ve seen firsthand how fragile school connections can be. I’ve celebrated when a child experienced their first uninterrupted school year, and I’ve grieved with others who carried the weight of repeated losses.

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Back-to-school season reveals the high cost of instability. But it also offers a reminder: when youth development professionals see school attendance as part of their mission — and coordinate with educators and caregivers — foster youth have a real chance to thrive.

Addressing chronic absenteeism is not just about getting kids into classrooms. It’s about building the web of relationships and supports that keep them coming back. That’s work no one system can do alone. But together, we can ensure foster youth aren’t left behind in the attendance crisis — and instead are moving steadily toward their futures.

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Gaile Osborne is the executive director of the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina. She and her husband have fostered over 30 children and adopted five.