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Getting Your Education


Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program

Get Extra School Help and Services! You don’t have to figure out how to get through school by yourself. You can get help with school and transitional support through the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program. This program provides foster youth with a school coordinator through their county office of education. This person can assist you with:

  • school records
  • school and class placements
  • obtaining partial credits for coursework completed elsewhere
  • getting tutoring and counseling
  • finding a mentor
  • accessing vocational training
  • going to college


Look up the contact information for a Foster Youth Services Coordinator in your county.  Be sure to save the name and contact information for your FYS Coordinator!

Educational Rights and Alternatives

There are a lot of tools to help you complete middle school,  get your high school education, and get a diploma or an equivalency certificate. Check out the following resources:   

Foster Care Educational Rights

  • Options for Getting Through High School  
    Learn about options for foster youth who do not think they can graduate from high school due to frequent moving and disruptions in their lives. Find out what options you may have to graduate without taking extra classes and tests.
  • Foster Youth Education Rights 
    This is a summary of the educational rights of foster youth with links to resources. These rights are also available in PDF format. This summary includes details of the right to remain in your school of origin, the right to immediate enrollment when you change schools, right to partial credits, graduation rights, college rights, school discipline rights, and the right to your school records. It also covers some non-education rights, such as the right to see a doctor and to have private storage space.
  • My Life My Rights – My Education 
    Public Counsel of Los Angeles publishes this website to help foster youth understand what the law says about your educational rights and what options you have for getting your diploma.


High School Graduation Alternatives

  • High School Graduation Alternatives 
    This is a tip sheet for foster youth on getting your high school diploma or equivalency certificate. It also includes information on pregnant minor schools, continuation high schools, and alternative high school programs.
  • California Adult Schools 
    Use this locator to find adult schools near you that offer GED courses, high school diplomas, job training, U.S. citizenship courses,
  • Don't Fall for a High School Diploma Scam! 
    Watch out for fake diploma sites that sell worthless high school diplomas. They won’t be valid when you go to enroll in college, apply for a job, get a promotion, or enlist in the military. Learn how to spot a scam from the Federal Trade Commission. 


Need Help Now?


EMERGENCIES: 911

California Youth Crisis Line: 1-800-843-5200
Connecting youth to trained counselors and local services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Your Life Your Voice1-800-448-3000

Crisis Text Line: send text to 741 741 

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Quick Links

Foster Youth Wellness Home
Physical Wellness 
Emotional Wellness
Intellectual Wellness
Spiritual Wellness
Social Wellness
Environmental Wellness
Occupational Wellness
Financial Wellness

Printable Documents

Education2636238460913096446

Know Your Rights!

If you have questions about your rights or need help with other issues while you are in foster care, contact the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson.

Foster Care Ombudsperson
1-877-846-1602 (toll-free helpline)
fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov


General Site Disclaimers 

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The views expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of the CDSS. The CDSS does not endorse, support or advocate in any way the viewpoints or information contained in this website.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the CDSS of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. Unless otherwise specified, the CDSS does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.