The state took children from their parents — then failed to give them a ‘real’ education
Foster youth in Michigan say the classes they took in state-funded facilities didn’t count toward graduation. Some dropped out. “I felt destroyed,” one said, “like everything I did was for nothing.”
Full story here. Written by Erin Einhorn, photography by Ali Lapetina for NBC News.
Christopher Jaco, Kayla Goshay, Christian Randle, Carlos Correa and Renard Baldwin learned the classes they took in state-licensed institutions didn’t necessarily count toward graduation. ALI LAPETINA for NBC News
Kayla Goshay thought she was working toward a diploma while living in a home for girls. In fact, she later learned, “I really wasn’t doing anything.”
“They don’t have one transcript for me — literally not one," Christian Randle said.
Renard Baldwin lived in one facility for two or three months that didn't send him to school at all, he said. Another facility had poor quality instruction and high teacher turnover.
Foster Youth in Michigan who worked toward diplomas learned a discouraging truth: They had no credits
Christopher Jaco resents the sacrifices he had to make to graduate on time. He wanted to live a "normal life" in high school but had to make up two years of lost credits.
Christopher Jaco, Kayla Goshay, Christian Randle and Renard Baldwin are members of Empowering Foster Youth Through Technology, which is pushing for better state oversight of education in facilities.
Carlos Correa's graduation was delayed by a year after he took high school classes at the Detroit Behavioral Institute that he described as "kindergarten" level.