Foster and juvenile justice involved youth face steep educational challenges. ACCT supports attorneys advocating for the educational rights of these youth . We provide $100/meeting to Guardians ad Litem and attorneys representing children in IEP meetings and disciplinary hearings. With greater advocacy, Mid-Missouri can avoid the national statistics on youth in the system:

Foster youth are suspended and expelled from school three times more often than other children.
Foster youth are far less likely to graduate from high school.
Over 40% of youth in foster care have educational disabilities
Less than 10% of foster care alumni have a bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility Guidelines

Must be an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meeting or school disciplinary hearing.
The meeting must concern a child under the jurisdiction of the 19th Judicial Circuit dependency and/or delinquency courts.
The attorney/GAL must attend the entire meeting.
The attorney/GAL must complete the form below by the 15th day following the month for which you are requesting payment.
Payment contingent on availability of funding.
ACCT retrains the right to deny payment requests for any reason.