Michigan Legislation Seeks to Improve Foster Youth Education
Michigan lawmakers are taking steps to address the education crisis among foster youth. Three bills have been introduced to improve high school graduation rates and to ensure that the credits earned by these students in residential facilities count towards their graduation.
Michigan legislators have introduced a series of bills aimed at addressing the long-standing challenges foster youth face in achieving their high school diplomas. The move comes in response to revelations about the systemic problems that have been making it harder for these students to graduate.
Three bills have been proposed by Representative Stephanie A. Young and 15 co-sponsors. The first bill would require the state to ensure that foster youths receive an education that focuses on meeting graduation requirements. The other two bills would mandate the state to track and report data on the educational attainment of foster youths and to monitor the educational offerings in residential facilities.
The need for these measures has been made evident by the testimonies of current and former foster youths. For instance, Raymond Miller, a former foster youth, discovered that the classes he took in two residential facilities did not count towards his graduation, leading to a delay in his schooling.
The crisis in foster youth education is starkly highlighted by the fact that only 41% of Michigan foster youths graduate from high school, compared to an overall student graduation rate of 81%.
These bills represent an early step towards improving the educational outcomes for foster youths in Michigan. They build on recent improvements such as the appointment of two educational analysts who work full time to help foster youth navigate the educational system. As the legislation proceeds, it is hoped that more initiatives will be introduced to further assist these students.