Helpful information and tools for youth experiencing foster care and their parents, caregivers, and school personnel.
OSPI Foster Care Education Program
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) oversees public K–12 education in Washington state. Find information about school resources for students experiencing foster care, laws, procedures, and much more.
Office of Education Ombuds
The Office of the Education Ombuds (OEO) is an independent agency that works to reduce the opportunity gap by supporting families, students, educators, and communities in understanding the public K-12 education system and resolving concerns collaboratively. Find resources and assistance on their website.
Resources to come.
Attendance and Truancy
Information on attendance, tardiness, and truancy.
Collaborating with Schools
Information on collaborating with schools, including when it is appropriate to request a school meeting.
Educational Records
Information on accessing educational records for youth in foster care.
ESSA, Best Interest Determination Meetings & Enrollment
Information on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), best interest determination meetings, enrollment, transfer of records, transportation and more.
School Discipline (General Overview)
Treehouse’s general overview of school discipline.
School Discipline for Students with Disabilities
Information on school discipline for students with disabilities.
Shortened School Days
Information on shortened school days.
Special Education and IEPs
Information on Special Education, including IEPs, accommodations, modifications and evaluations.
King County Library System—Tutor.com
Get one-on-one, real-time tutoring. For students in grades K-12, entry-level college and adult learners. Submit an essay, math problem, cover letter or resume for review. Prepare for the SAT, ACT, AP or graduate school entrance exams. Get help with study skills for students and families. Available via chat and audio.
Tutor.com is available 24/7 but real-time tutoring is only available from 2:00 p.m. to midnight daily. Access to Tutor.com requires a King County Library card. You can apply for a King County Library card here.
NCW Libraries (Wenatchee)–Help Now!
Live tutors are available from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily to help youth ace their homework or prepare for the GED, SAT, ACT, TOEFL and AP exams. Tutores disponibles en español. Log in any time to access practice tests, submit your research paper or resume to the writing lab, prepare for the U.S. Citizenship test, advance your Microsoft Office skills, and more! También disponible en español. Library card required, you can apply for one here.
Pierce County Library System—HelpNow Online Homework Help
Online tutors are available every day from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., for one-on-one homework help. Live FAFSA help is also available. Go to Live Tutoring and under “select grade” choose FAFSA from the bottom of the list. The service is available in English or Spanish, for students of all ages. Online Homework Help requires a Pierce County Library card. You can apply for a library card here.
If your local library does not offer free online tutoring, you can access Tutor.com by using the instructions provided here.
Seattle Public Library—Tutor.com
Live English and Spanish tutors are available from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Vietnamese tutors are available from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Log in to Tutor.com with a Seattle Public Library card or Library Link Number and PIN. To find out how to use your Seattle Public Schools student ID number, visit the Library Link page. You can apply for a Seattle Public Library card here.
Sno-Isle Libraries (Snohomish)–Brainfuse HelpNow
Online tutors in every subject, writing help and more. Seven days a week, 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. A Sno-Isle Library card is required to access. You can apply for a Sno-Isle Library card here.
Spokane Public Library–Learning Express
The Spokane Public Library system does not offer live tutoring services. However, students can access tutorials and helpful information via their Learning Express service. A Spokane Public Library card is required to access. You can apply for a SPL card here.
Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program
Financial assistance to youth in foster care who attend accredited colleges, universities or vocational/technical colleges.
Governors’ Scholarship for Youth in Foster Care
Financial assistance for youth in foster care interested in attending college.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Support for low- and middle-income Washington State students to earn bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, math and health care.
American Indian Endowed Scholarship
Educational scholarships for high-achieving, low-income Washington State students with close ties to an American Indian tribe or community.
theWashBoard.org Scholarship Match
Tool that connects Washington State students with scholarship providers.
LGBTQ+ Scholarships
A tool that connects LGBTQ+ students to possible scholarships.
FAFSA/WAFSA Guide
Treehouse’s Guide to FAFSA/WAFSA for the current school year.
WorkSource Washington
Tools for finding employment.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Statewide resource that helps people with disabilities prepare for and find employment.
WorkForce Central (Pierce County)
List of pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in Pierce County.
ApprenticeshipUSA
Resource for finding apprenticeships.
ANEW (King County)
Organization that promotes equity in the trades with pre-apprenticeship programs in the King County area.
Passport to Careers
Education and career assistance for Washington students who have been in various types of foster care or who have experienced unaccompanied homelessness.
Become an Apprentice
A guide to registered apprenticeships in Washington state, including for women, minorities, and others.
Foster Youth to Independence
DCYF Independent Living Program
Description of independent living programs in Washington state with a link to regional providers.
Independent Youth Housing Program
Access Points
Alliance CaRES
Resources, support, and trainings and more for foster and kin caregivers around Washington state.
Caregiver Handouts
Handouts with useful information for parents and other adults in the life of foster youth.
Understanding the Dependency Court Process
A helpful timeline of the foster care legal process from DCFY.
Important Child Safety Rules
Tips for teaching safety to children at home and away.
Northwest Harvest Foodbank
Map of food banks and meal programs across Washington state.
Treehouse Pride Guide
TeamChild
Legal support for youth and assistance in accessing community services with offices in King, Pierce, Spokane, and Yakima counties.
Center for Children and Youth Justice
A Washington state organization that supports youth experiencing the juvenile justice and and child welfare systems.