Skip to main content
mobile menu
Arizona Department of Education Homepage
  • SY 2022-2023
  • Home
  • Students & Families
    • Adult Education
    • Early Childhood & Preschool
    • Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
    • Parents & Families
    • School Report Cards
    • Transcripts & Test Scores
  • Educators
    • Academic Standards
    • Assessment
    • Career & Technical Education
    • Certification & Career
    • Post-Secondary & ECAP
    • Public Educator Search
    • Support & Improvement Resources
    • Training & Professional Development
  • Administrators
    • Accountability
    • School & Student Data
    • School Finance
    • School Support & Improvement
    • State & Federal Grants
    • Training & Conferences
  • Programs & Supports
    • Afterschool & 21st Century Learning Centers
    • Educator and School Excellence
    • English Learners | OELAS & Migrant Education Program
    • Gifted & Advanced Learning
    • Health & Nutrition Services
    • Homeless, Foster Care, & Refugee Programs
    • Information Technology
    • Office of Digital Teaching & Learning
    • Office of Indian Education
    • School Safety & Social Wellness
    • Special Education
  • About ADE
    • About the Department
    • News Releases
    • Contact Us
    • Critical Race Theory Explained
    • Data Governance
    • Events
    • State Board of Education
    • State Board for Charter Schools
    • Submit a Complaint
  • ADEConnect
    • ADEConnect
    • Common Logon
  • Search
  • Home
  • Foster Care
  • Foster Care Blog
  • A Celebration of Literacy and Foster Youth Education with Holiday Fun!

A Celebration of Literacy and Foster Youth Education with Holiday Fun!

  • Fri, Dec 22 2017  •
    • Foster Care

December 10th, 2017 marks the one year anniversary of the foster care provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This massive education legislation, among other things, promotes school stability for children in foster care. Foster care children remain in the school they attended prior to entering foster care, and only if it is in a foster child’s best interest would they change schools. In the cases when a foster child would be best served by enrolling in a new school, that school is required to do so immediately, even without any or all of the necessary paperwork.

kids-making-ornaments.jpeg

Children at a green table making Christmas ornaments.
To celebrate this anniversary, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) partnered with Christown Spectrum Mall in West Phoenix to participate in the Christown Cringle’s Workshop. ADE invited several foster group homes to the event. For the many that participated, they were met with a variety of entertaining options. Santa took pictures with the families. Professional artists were present to make caricatures of the children and adults. Children got to make ornaments for the mall’s tree and several other to be donated to community centers and homeless centers. The workshop elves painted faces. Joy and merriment completely took over the Christown Mall food court!

Perhaps, one of the many highlights of the event, was when ADE's invited guests met Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Diane Douglas. Many of the children in attendance had never met an elected official before and thought it was something to brag about.

SPI-with-youth-home.jpeg

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction and costumed Grinch with kids in front of a Christmas tree.
Superintendent Douglas and kids all smiles about reading despite the Grinch.

Superintendent Douglas smiled and talked with all of the children, encouraging them to prioritize their education. The children eagerly sat by the tree and faux fireplace (safety first!) while Superintendent Douglas read book after book to them. Reading to Arizona's children has been a public activity Douglas has enjoyed several times around Arizona to promote literacy with ADE's #Read20AZ literacy initiative.

Grinch-and-kids.jpeg

Costumed Grinch rests on overstuffed teddy bear and talks to young children.
One particular young man made quite an impression. Although he was just starting his high school education, he already planned where he would work in the coming years, displaying a maturity and sense of long-term thinking many don't possess at his age. He congregated by ADE's table and helped hand out pencils, bookmarks, treats, and educational materials. As one of the older boys, he is a great leader and role model to the younger children in his home and was also ready to help his home's staff with the younger children when needed.

All in all, the event was a major success! Many of the children in the foster care system have great need for caring adults in their lives.

Joey-at-table.jpeg

Man in red wearing elf hat stands in front of table with educational materials.
ADE State Coordinator for Foster Care Education, Joey Taylor

Many look for those who will take a moment to simply listen and interact with them. So to engage with these children for a few hours on a Sunday really reminds those in the education profession why they chose this path. It's a way of giving back the enriches both ADE staff and the youth we serve.

As always, subscribe to the blog for future updates regarding ADE and foster care education. If you have a story of success for a foster student or a great program that is serving foster students, please submit them to [email protected]. ADE would love to celebrate triumphs in the foster care community!

View all Foster Care posts

Recent Foster Care Articles

2021-2022 Foster Care Education Program Trainings Wed, Dec 1 2021
Fall 2021 Foster Care Education Webinar Recordings Wed, Sep 22 2021
We're Still Here! ADE Foster Care Education Program Update During COVID-19 Closure Mon, Apr 6 2020
Next Chapter Symposium: Resources to Support Youth Aging-Out of Foster Care REGISTER NOW!!! Thu, Feb 13 2020
Silver Bells & Silver Linings Wed, Dec 19 2018

Related Articles

2021-2022 Foster Care Education Program Trainings
Wed, Dec 1 2021
Fall 2021 Foster Care Education Webinar Recordings
Wed, Sep 22 2021
We're Still Here! ADE Foster Care Education Program Update During COVID-19 Closure
Mon, Apr 6 2020
Next Chapter Symposium: Resources to Support Youth Aging-Out of Foster Care REGISTER NOW!!!
Thu, Feb 13 2020
Silver Bells & Silver Linings
Wed, Dec 19 2018
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Certification
  • Language / Lenguaje
  • Privacy Policy
  • School Report Cards
  • State Board of Education
  • State Board for Charter Schools
  • Web Accessibility

© 2023 Arizona Department of Education

Social Links

Arizona Department of Education Twitter
Arizona Department of Education Facebook Page
  • Statewide Policies
  • Site Map