For students · You’ve got people here

This is still your school.

If you’re in foster care, a lot can change fast — where you live, who you live with. Your school doesn’t have to be one of those things. The law is on your side here, and so are we. This page is what that actually means for you, in plain words.

What you get to keep

Six things that are true for you — no matter how many times you move.

You get to stay at your school
Even if you move to a new foster home in another town, you can keep going to the same school — same teachers, same friends — unless a change is truly better for you. That's your call to be part of.
You start the same day
If you do change schools, the new one signs you up that day — even if you don't have your records, shots, or any paperwork yet. We sort the papers out later. You don't wait.
You get a ride
If getting to your school is far, we set up a ride and pay for it — for the whole time you're in foster care. Tell us and we'll figure it out.
Your credits come with you
Classes you already passed count here. If you're in 11th or 12th grade, we make sure a move doesn't stop you from graduating on time — that's the law, and it's our job.
You don't have to explain anything
Being in foster care is private. Only the staff who need to know — to sign you up or set up your ride — know. Other students and other parents are never told.
You can still play and join
Sports, clubs, activities — you can't be benched or left out because you switched schools partway through the year. If you want in, you're in.

Your person at school

There’s one adult at your school whose actual job is you.

You don’t have to figure any of this out alone, and you don’t have to go through the office in front of everyone. Find your school and email or call your person directly. It’s private.

Beacon Elementary · PreK–2
Rachel Duckworth
rduckworth@monteschools.org
(360) 249-4528
Simpson Elementary · Grades 3–6
Stephanie Singer
ssinger@monteschools.org
(360) 249-4331
MJSHS · Grades 7–12
Kristy Southard
ksouthard@monteschools.org
(360) 249-1636

Not sure who to talk to? Email Shawn Brown for the whole district — sbrown@monteschools.org or call (360) 249-1233. Any counselor at your school counts too.

Need something? Just ask.

You can ask for help without making it a whole thing.

Message your person (up above) and just say what you need. You don’t have to explain your situation, and you don’t have to ask out loud in front of anyone. Things people ask for all the time:

A ride to school
School supplies or a backpack
Clothes, shoes, or a coat
Help catching up on credits
Someone to talk to
Food to take home

None of it costs you anything, and none of it needs a form.

Already handled

Some things are just taken care of — you don’t have to do anything.

Meals are free — breakfast and lunch, automatically.
Fees are covered — sports, activities, ASB, materials. Nothing you owe blocks you.
Supplies, clothes, and a ride — just ask your person.
Treehouse helps WA foster youth with clothes, activities, and school costs — treehouseforkids.org (opens in a new tab).

After high school

If you’ve been in foster care, college can be paid for.

Washington has real money set aside for students who were in foster care — for college, trade school, and training. You don’t have to have it figured out; your counselor and Shawn Brown can walk you through it.

Passport to Careers (opens in a new tab) — money and support built for foster youth.
College Bound Scholarship (opens in a new tab) and tuition waivers (ETV).

Someone to talk to

If things feel like too much, you don’t have to carry it by yourself. Talk to your counselor or your person — or reach out any time, day or night:

988 — call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988.
Childhelp — 24-hour help line, 1-800-422-4453.

You belong here. You always did.

Looking for the version for your caregiver or caseworker? See the full foster care page →

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Six things that are true for you — no matter how many times you move.

You get to stay at your school

Even if you move to a new foster home in another town, you can keep going to the same school — same teachers, same friends — unless a change is truly better for you. That's your call to be part of.

You start the same day

If you do change schools, the new one signs you up that day — even if you don't have your records, shots, or any paperwork yet. We sort the papers out later. You don't wait.

You get a ride

If getting to your school is far, we set up a ride and pay for it — for the whole time you're in foster care. Tell us and we'll figure it out.

Your credits come with you

Classes you already passed count here. If you're in 11th or 12th grade, we make sure a move doesn't stop you from graduating on time — that's the law, and it's our job.

You don't have to explain anything

Being in foster care is private. Only the staff who need to know — to sign you up or set up your ride — know. Other students and other parents are never told.

You can still play and join

Sports, clubs, activities — you can't be benched or left out because you switched schools partway through the year. If you want in, you're in.

There’s one adult at your school whose actual job is you.

You don’t have to figure any of this out alone, and you don’t have to go through the office in front of everyone. Find your school and email or call your person directly. It’s private.

Not sure who to talk to? Email Shawn Brown for the whole district — sbrown@monteschools.org or call (360) 249-1233. Any counselor at your school counts too.

You can ask for help without making it a whole thing.

Message your person (up above) and just say what you need. You don’t have to explain your situation, and you don’t have to ask out loud in front of anyone. Things people ask for all the time:

A ride to school

School supplies or a backpack

Clothes, shoes, or a coat

Help catching up on credits

Someone to talk to

Food to take home

None of it costs you anything, and none of it needs a form.

Some things are just taken care of — you don’t have to do anything.

Meals are free — breakfast and lunch, automatically.

Fees are covered — sports, activities, ASB, materials. Nothing you owe blocks you.

Supplies, clothes, and a ride — just ask your person.

Treehouse helps WA foster youth with clothes, activities, and school costs — treehouseforkids.org.

If you’ve been in foster care, college can be paid for.