Cohoes City School District Transportation Procedure for Students in Foster Care
The Cohoes City School District collaborates with Departments of Social Services of local counties to efficiently address the educational needs of children in foster care. The District’s Foster Care Liaison works with representatives of DSS and other involved school districts to make a Best Interest Determination (BID) for educational placement of foster children, considering factors like safety plans, expected length of foster care placement, length of commute, and other child-centered needs to determine whether the child would be best served in their original district or the district where the child currently lives.
Children placed in foster care within Cohoes will be enrolled immediately upon receipt of the Child in Foster Care Notification. To meet the goal of promptly addressing the educational needs of children in foster care, our local department of social services (LDSSs) and the Cohoes City School District will maintain a local transportation agreement for students in foster care. This cooperative agreement will ensure that each agency has the proper contacts.
The Cohoes City School District will initiate an Individual Transportation Plan specific to each child for whom Cohoes is the designated district of attendance within 2-3 business days for in-district transportation or 5-7 business days for out-of-district transportation. Transportation to Cohoes Schools for students in foster care residing within the District is per BOE Policy 8410 Student Transportation.
Foster Care Liaison: Erin Hill, Director of Special Programs