Start of the School Year Checklist

Educational Advocacy

As the start of the school year approaches, there are a number of ways you can do your best to help your foster youth start the year smoothly.  

BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

Supplies: check with your youth and their caregivers to see if they have the school supplies they need. If the school provides a list, get a copy of it and make sure the youth has a copy as well. Check in with your Case Supervisor for financial support for the purchase of school supplies.

Connect with school staff: contact the Foster Youth Liaison at the school or district, and provide them with a copy of your CASA court order/ ERH order. Give the school your contact information.

Enrollment: contact school administration to make sure the youth is fully enrolled for the year and that both the youth and the academic staff have the information they need to start off the year properly.

Teachers and Staff: Reach out to teachers and any relevant counselors or staff to introduce yourself. These are relationships you can (and should) maintain all year.

Transportation: Confirm that the youth has a way to get to school and that they know how to use it.

Extracurricular Activities: support your youth in their education beyond the classroom.  Look into opportunities provided by the school and offered nearby that develop their strengths and interests.  See below for a handful of Bay Area resources to get you started.

ONCE SCHOOL STARTS

School Visit: see if your youth will show you around their school.  This is a great way to start conversations, meet teachers in person, and gain a better understanding of what their academic experience will look like throughout the coming year. 

Academic Tracking: meet with the student’s counselor early in the year to make sure your youth is on track toward graduation.  Keep an eye on grades and credits throughout the year, and follow up with the counselor if questions arise. If your young person's school uses an online system for monitoring grades and assignments, work with the school to get access.

30-Day IEP: If the student you support entered a new school this year and receives Special Education Services, an IEP meeting must be held to assess the placement and if it is meeting the student’s needs. For additional information, please register for this upcoming virtual event being held on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 1p: “Back-to-School: Preparing for the One-month Check-in with Dr. Sarah Pelangka.

Additional Resources:

San Francisco Unified School District Calendar

SF School List and Information

Oakland Unified School District Calendar

Bay Area Extracurricular Resources:

SF Boys and Girls Club: after-school programming for just $10/year. 

College Track: supports students from the summer before 9th grade through graduation.  Email info@collegetrack.org for more information.

100% College Prep: opportunities to visit colleges, work 1:1 with academic coaches, find support for parents or caregivers, and more.