The Hidden Crisis in Foster Care: Advocating for Educational Equity

Sharon Dunlevy is an educational advocate for children in foster care. It is her mission to bring the educational needs of children in foster care to the attention of those who can change policies and practices that would give more children in foster care the ability to succeed educationally, the foundation for their ability to succeed after leaving care. Her primary work includes training foster parents on the educational laws that affect children in foster care and how to use those laws to ensure these children graduate successfully. But Sharon is not just a trainer, she is also a speaker and influencer. She has recently participated in two speaking competitions with the intent of bringing attention to those needs, winning fan favorite in the second competition.Takeaways: The current foster care system inadequately supports half a million children, impacting their educational outcomes. Foster children often face significant challenges in graduating from high school or obtaining diplomas by age 18. Educational advocacy for foster children is crucial to breaking the cycle of trauma and lack of support. Understanding the laws surrounding education for foster children is imperative for foster parents to effectively advocate for their needs. The trauma experienced by foster children can severely hinder their self-esteem and ability to trust adults. Programs like the Family First Prevention Services Act provide essential resources to support youth transitioning out of foster care. Websitewww.sharondunlevy.comSocial Media Informationwww.linkedin.com/in/sharondunlevyShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)https://nape.org.uk/Discover more about Education on Fire🔥 https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show with a One-Off Tiphttps://educationonfire.com/support🔥 Ecamm Free Trial – How I record and produce this show.https://educationonfire.com/ecamm🔥 Captivate.FM – My...

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Do you feel the education system is sucking the life out of you and the pupils you serve? I think many of us wish we could click our fingers and make it fit for purpose. A place of growth with shared learning that empowers pupils to be their best selves, so they can create a world they want to inhabit now and in the future. While a magic wand or a visionary politician might sound like the answer I believe change is already happening. Educators are changing futures one conversation at a time. New technology and the environments where we learn are beginning to look different both in and out of the classroom. I hope you are seeing this first hand and are excited about what you can share with your pupils. We are having conversations, sharing organisations and communities that are supporting education in a way that you may have not experienced. Educational change will come from us all working in way that supports the best interests of each of our pupils, personalised learning. Governments and policy makers will follow when they see fully how it can be different. So let us teach, coach, mentor and create an environment that fuels every child with feedback, inspiration, resilience and empowerment. The Education on Fire community is shining the torch, so no matter where you are in the world or how you are supporting children this podcast is here for you. ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’