How do youth placed in foster care aspire to and access college? Through insightful, in-depth interviews, this book chronicles the lives and experiences of 47 college students navigating the challenging terrain of the United States' foster care system.

Contents Foreword Tyrone C. Howard  ix Series Foreword James A. Banks  xiii Acknowledgments  xix 1.  Introduction  1 Setting the Stage  1 Purpose and Scope  4 Conceptual Scaffolding  5 The Students  6 More than an Intellectual Exercise: My Journey to this Work  8 Reading From Foster Care to College  9 Person-Centered Language: A Note About Terms  12 Chapter Overview  12 2.  System Failure: Navigating and Resisting Foster Care  14 The Foundations of American Foster Care  15 In Their Own Words: Life in Foster Care  20 Common Threads: The Challenges of Stability, Care, and Safety  24 Navigating Systemic Failures with Resilience  28 Conclusion  29 3.  “A Hope in the Unseen”: Navigating K–12 Education and Fostering College Dreams  31 K–12 Educational Challenges  32 Fostering and Sustaining College Dreams: Barbie’s Story  39 Conclusion  43 4.  Choosing College as a Matter of Belonging  45 College Choice as a Matter of Belonging  46 Transitioning to College: Navigating New Beginnings  51 Conclusion  55 5.  “Bridges” to Postsecondary Retention, Persistence, and Success  57 Dylan’s Story  58 Conclusion  68 Conclusion  69 1.  Ensure Placement Stability and Decrease School Mobility with Attention to Equity  71 2.  Extend Foster Care Nationally  72 3.  Prepare K–12 Educators to Support Youth in Foster Care  72 4.  States Should Appoint Ombuds Officers for Children and Families  73 5.  Implement Early College Awareness and Preparation Programs  73 6.  Provide Year-Round Campus Housing  74 7.  Invest in Campus Support Programs for Youth in Foster Care  75 8.  Address Family Privilege and Educational Traditions  75 Final Thoughts  76 Appendix: An Overview of the Study  77 References  83 Index  89 About the Author  93