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Abstract:
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Children in America’s foster care system represent one of the nation’s most vulnerable populations of students . The life outcomes of these children can be tragic , with disproportionate numbers experiencing prison , homelessness , non -marital parenthood , and other poor life outcomes . Many of these children have suffered trauma before and after they were placed in care , and many have special medical , emotional , and social needs . Of all the difficulties that foster children experience , however , low academic achievement may have the most detrimental consequences for their futures .
The purpose of this study is to explore the commonalities of the 2 -3 % of former foster children who graduate from college despite the odds against them . By delving into the experiences of this population , this study hopes to contribute to the research by improving our understanding of academically successful foster care alumni , particularly by studying the social and educational support systems that abetted the success .
Because a majority of foster care alumni remain on some form of public assistance throughout the course of their lives , any reduction of that number would be a step in the right direction . By studying the tiny minority that successfully graduates from college , we can gain insight into how this group managed to overcome the barriers that prevented the other 97 % of this group from graduating from college . The findings could have implications ranging from K -12 educational support systems in and out of schools , higher education policy decisions , and foster care program design . |