Amends TCA Title 4; Title 37 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

This bill requires LEAs to designate a foster care liaison to facilitate LEA compliance with state and federal laws related to students who are in foster care and to collaborate with the department of children's services to address educational barriers for students in foster care. The full text of this bill specifies 10 roles and responsibilities that a foster care liaison may exercise. <br /> <br /> This bill authorizes LEAs to establish a building point of contact in each elementary school, middle school, and high school to assist in coordinating services and resources within the foster care liaison's authorized scope of responsibilities and duties for students in foster care. The points of contact must be appointed by the superintendent of the LEA, in consultation with the school principal and the LEA foster care liaison. Under this bill, the LEA foster care liaison is responsible for training building points of contact.<br /> <br /> This bill requires the department of education to make best practices for choosing and training building points of contact available to each LEA.<br /> <br /> ON MARCH 7, 2022, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2621, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 changes a reference to "superintendent" to "director of schools". Under present law, references to superintendents are deemed to be references to the director of schools.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 4, 2022, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 2621 FOR SENATE BILL 2309, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2621, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 removes a statement of legislative findings and intent from this bill.<br />