Notice to a school of a permanency review or hearing, notice to a school district of a foster home or group home license or out-of-home care placement, and transfer of pupil records

Currently, when a child adjudged to be in need of protection or services is removed from his or her home in a proceeding under the Children's Code, the agency responsible for that child's removal is required to prepare a permanency plan, designed to ensure that the child is reunified with his or her family whenever appropriate, or that the child quickly attains a placement or home providing long-term stability. Current law requires the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code (juvenile court) to periodically review the plan and to periodically hold a hearing on the plan. Under current law, when a permanency plan is up for review or a hearing, notice of the review or hearing is sent to a list of interested parties and persons as prescribed by the Children's Code. Parties to the proceeding have a right to submit written comments on the permanency plan and participate in the review or hearing; other interested persons may have the right to submit comments to the juvenile court on the proposed plan.

This bill adds the child's school to the list of entities or persons that receive notice of the review or hearing and that may have the opportunity to submit written comments to the court on the proposed plan, but may not otherwise participate in the review or appear at the hearing.

Under current law, when a new foster home or group home is licensed, the licensing agency is required to notify the clerk of the school district in which the foster home or group home is located. This bill requires that the licensing agency notify a school district of a newly licensed foster home or group home located in the school district, but does not specify that the notice must be sent to the clerk of the school district.

Under current law, when a child is placed in a foster home, group home, shelter care facility, or the home of a relative other than a parent (out-of-home care placement), the agency placing the child in the out-of-home care placement is required to notify the clerk of the school district where the out-of-home care placement is located that a placement has been made. This bill requires that the agency making an out-of-home care placement give notification of the placement to the school district and school where the child will attend after the placement is made.

The bill does not specify that the notice must be sent to the clerk of the school district.