(a) Each LEA shall designate a foster care liaison to facilitate LEA compliance with state and federal laws related to students who are in foster care and to collaborate with the department of children’s services to address educational barriers for students in foster care.
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-6-3901
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) The role and responsibilities of a foster care liaison may include:
(1) Coordinating with the department of children’s services on the implementation of state and federal laws related to students who are in foster care;(2) Coordinating with foster care education program staff at the department of education;(3) Attending training and professional development opportunities to improve LEA implementation efforts;(4) Serving as the primary contact person for representatives of the department of children’s services;(5) Facilitating immediate enrollment of a child placed in foster care in the appropriate school;(6) Facilitating the transfer of school records when a child is placed in foster care and changes schools;(7) Facilitating data sharing with child welfare agencies consistent with state and federal privacy laws and rules;(8) Serving as a point of contact and resource to students in foster care;(9) Ensuring that students in foster care are enrolled in and regularly attending school; and(10) Providing professional development and training to school staff on state and federal laws related to students in foster care and the educational needs of students in foster care.
