Nadra Nittle

Children in foster care change schools as many as 15 times during their K-12 education. And each time they do, they risk falling behind up to 6 months academically. That’s why the Every Student Succeeds Act, the most significant federal education overhaul in more than a decade, gives states specific guidelines about meeting the needs of youth in the child welfare system.

Foster youth have numerous adults in their lives responsible for acting in their best interests — from teachers and caregivers to social workers and mental health providers. But keeping all of these adults on the same page to ensure that foster youth meet their educational goals can be challenging, according to Michelle Traiman, director of FosterEd.

Maria Serrano couldn’t wait to leave foster care behind when she turned 18 two years ago. “I didn’t want anything to do with the system,” she said. In foster care since she was 15, Serrano felt unstable in the child welfare system.

Nearly 170 foster children were adopted Friday during the National Adoption Day event at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park just east of Los Angeles. This marks the 16th time the court has taken part in the adoption celebration in which 400 courts from across the country finalize adoptions and honor families that have adopted youth from the child welfare system.

Godwin Higa may not be famous, but the San Diego principal has no shortage of fans. He fields phone calls from admirers from across the country and, at times, even from across the pond.