HB 22-1374: Foster Youth Success Act

• Requires the Department of Education to hire a full-time foster care education coordinator beginning in the 2019-20 fiscal year to provide mandatory annual professional development training to local education agency personnel and county caseworkers on educational rights under federal foster care laws.

• Mandates a data-sharing agreement between the Department of Education and Department of Human Services to identify students in out-of-home placement, track educational outcomes, and strengthen local service delivery.

• Establishes specific measurable goals for foster care education including annual improvement in core content area class completion, grade level advancement, high school graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness for students in grades 6-12.

• Requires annual reports to the legislature beginning February 1, 2023, containing detailed data on foster youth educational outcomes compared to general student population across multiple metrics including attendance, dropout rates, and graduation rates.

• Creates the Fostering Educational Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care Program to serve students in grades 9-12 (with option to expand to grades 6-8), contracting with 2-5 school districts based on need, foster care population, and geographic diversity.

• Appropriates $563,568 to the Department of Human Services and $210,677 to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2022-23 to implement the act.