Foster Care Education
Contact
Program Coordinator
Educational Liaison
Washoe County
Department of Social Services
Children's Services
P.O. Box 11130
Reno NV 89520
(775) 328-3914
(775) 337-4478 (fax)
KPruitt@washoecounty.us
Concern
Poor educational outcomes is a concern throughout the nation, and this state especially, as Nevada continues to rank very poorly in terms of educational funding and outcomes for all students. Earlier this year the "Quality Counts" education study revealed that Nevada ranks 48th in terms of per pupil funding. According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 23% of Nevada fourth-graders and 20% of eighth-graders were proficient or better in math; and just 20% of fourth-graders and 21% of eighth-graders were proficient or better in reading. Nevada also consistently ranks 48th or 49th in the nation in terms of the high school dropout rate. Foster children are especially at risk of experiencing difficulties in the educational system due to their unstable family situations, multiple school moves, and traumatic personal experiences.
Former Foster Youth and Education - A Snapshot of a Crisis
- Only fifty percent finish high school.
- Three percent complete college.
- Forty percent are receiving public assistance.
- Forty-two percent are homeless for at least one night within twelve months of their exit.
- Fifty-one percent are unemployed at age 22.
- Only seventeen percent are completely self-supporting after emancipation.
- Foster youth, without intervention, experience greater frequency of homelessness, addiction, early pregnancy, incarceration, and future involvement with CPS than the general population.
- Nationally, three out of ten of the nation's adult homeless are former foster youth.