Impact of policy on education: A look into the academic success of foster and homeless youth

This study revealed the perceptions of former foster youth and homeless youth as they related to educational policies that impacted the academic success of current foster and homeless youth. Foster youth and homeless youth high school graduation rates are low in comparison to non-homeless or non-foster peers. For example, 89 percent of non-foster youth completed high school, and only 59 percent of foster youth enrolled in 11th grade completed high school by the end of grade twelve (Burley, Mason, Halpern & Mina, 2011). To close the research gap this study looked at the academic success of homeless youth and foster youth as one inclusive population. This study relied on research regarding to educational barriers, low graduation rates, high special education enrollment, grade retention, school behavioral problems, poor academic performance, behavioral health challenges, school mobility, and low post-secondary educational attainment. The purpose of this research study was to better understand the impact of existing institutional policies on the high school academic success of foster and homeless youth.