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Secondary and Postsecondary Education Outcomes of Students with Experience in Foster Care: Systematic Review of the Literature from 2000-2023

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Title: Secondary and Postsecondary Education Outcomes of Students with Experience in Foster Care: Systematic Review of the Literature from 2000-2023
Language: English
Authors: Nathanael J. Okpych (ORCID 0000-0001-5929-7716), Kenyon Whitman, Jane Lee, Liz Neria-Piña (ORCID 0000-0002-8477-3099), Lisa A. Jackson, Maddy Day
Source: AERA Open. 2025 11(1).
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Education Level: Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Adult Education
High Schools
High School Equivalency Programs
Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foster Care, Secondary School Students, Literature Reviews, Graduation Rate, College Enrollment, High School Equivalency Programs, Outcomes of Education, Race, Disproportionate Representation, Barriers, Educational Legislation, Parent Rights, Student Records, Privacy, Federal Legislation, Elementary Secondary Education, Ethnicity, Racial Differences
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 1974, Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
ISSN: 2332-8584
Abstract: Students who experience foster care (SEFC) remain some of the most educationally marginalized youth in the United States. However, rates of secondary and postsecondary outcomes vary widely across studies, limiting the ability to inform policy. At present, there is no definitive publication that reports secondary and postsecondary education rates based on best available evidence. The goal of this study is to fill this gap by reviewing methodologically sound studies with SEFC. We conducted a systematic review of publications between 2000 and 2023. A total of 17 publications met our six inclusion criteria. Most findings came from regional rather than national studies. The high school/General Educational Development (GED) completion rate ranged from 69% to 85%, the postsecondary enrollment rate ranged from 29% to 64%, and the postsecondary degree completion rate ranged from 8% to 12%. Only three publications reported differences by race, which is an area in need of attention in future studies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494860
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Secondary and Postsecondary Education Outcomes of Students with Experience in Foster Care: Systematic Review of the Literature from 2000-2023
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nathanael+J%2E+Okpych%22">Nathanael J. Okpych</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5929-7716">0000-0001-5929-7716</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kenyon+Whitman%22">Kenyon Whitman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jane+Lee%22">Jane Lee</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liz+Neria-Piña%22">Liz Neria-Piña</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8477-3099">0000-0002-8477-3099</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lisa+A%2E+Jackson%22">Lisa A. Jackson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maddy+Day%22">Maddy Day</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22AERA+Open%22"><i>AERA Open</i></searchLink>. 2025 11(1).
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
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  Data: 23
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Adult+Education%22">Adult Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+School+Equivalency+Programs%22">High School Equivalency Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foster+Care%22">Foster Care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Students%22">Secondary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literature+Reviews%22">Literature Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduation+Rate%22">Graduation Rate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Enrollment%22">College Enrollment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Equivalency+Programs%22">High School Equivalency Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Race%22">Race</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disproportionate+Representation%22">Disproportionate Representation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Legislation%22">Educational Legislation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+Rights%22">Parent Rights</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Records%22">Student Records</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Privacy%22">Privacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Legislation%22">Federal Legislation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethnicity%22">Ethnicity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racial+Differences%22">Racial Differences</searchLink>
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  Data: 2332-8584
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  Data: Students who experience foster care (SEFC) remain some of the most educationally marginalized youth in the United States. However, rates of secondary and postsecondary outcomes vary widely across studies, limiting the ability to inform policy. At present, there is no definitive publication that reports secondary and postsecondary education rates based on best available evidence. The goal of this study is to fill this gap by reviewing methodologically sound studies with SEFC. We conducted a systematic review of publications between 2000 and 2023. A total of 17 publications met our six inclusion criteria. Most findings came from regional rather than national studies. The high school/General Educational Development (GED) completion rate ranged from 69% to 85%, the postsecondary enrollment rate ranged from 29% to 64%, and the postsecondary degree completion rate ranged from 8% to 12%. Only three publications reported differences by race, which is an area in need of attention in future studies.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1494860
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foster Care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Literature Reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduation Rate
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Enrollment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Equivalency Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Race
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disproportionate Representation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent Rights
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Records
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      – SubjectFull: Privacy
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      – SubjectFull: Federal Legislation
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethnicity
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      – SubjectFull: Racial Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 1974
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Secondary and Postsecondary Education Outcomes of Students with Experience in Foster Care: Systematic Review of the Literature from 2000-2023
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