At Licking Heights Local Schools, our mission is to support and grow every student so they can reach their highest potential. This commitment includes providing stability, access, and targeted support for students who have experienced significant barriers, including those in foster care.

If you are a foster parent or social worker, please review the information below to learn more about foster care services available through our district. Click HERE for information from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) serves as the guiding framework for ensuring educational stability for children in foster care. ESSA requires that students placed in foster care receive immediate enrollment in the school determined to be in their best interest.

In collaboration with child welfare agencies and partner districts, Licking Heights Local Schools coordinates school enrollment, transfer of records, and transportation services. These efforts help ensure continuity of learning and reduce educational disruptions.

The district’s Foster Care Liaison provides support and coordination in the following areas:

—Best Interest Determinations (BID) to identify the most appropriate school placement and address barriers to attendance and academic success, as required by ESSA

—Assistance with obtaining required enrollment documents

—Social, emotional, and behavioral supports

—IEP and Section 504 plan coordination

—Transportation planning and coordination

—Additional supportive services as needed for students in foster care

If you currently have a student placed in foster care in your home, or are preparing to receive a foster-placed student, please contact:

Mitch Tom, Director of Pupil Services and Foster Care Liaison

Phone: (740) 927-6926