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Hastings Commemorates Signing of the Uninterrupted Scholars Act

(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) commemorated President Obama’s signing of the Uninterrupted Scholars Act (S.3472). The Uninterrupted Scholars Act is bipartisan legislation that Hastings co-sponsored, which amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to grant a child welfare agency direct and unencumbered access to the academic records of young people in their care, while respecting the child’s right to privacy.
“As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I applaud the President for signing the Uninterrupted Scholars Act into law,” Hastings said. “I co-sponsored the Act because it will provide critical educational support to the more than 424,000 young people in foster care today.
“Foster youth and their child welfare agencies should not encounter issues accessing the student’s own educational records. Specifically, restricted access to records such as transcripts and report cards makes it harder for caseworkers to ascertain what is in the best interest of the student. This widens the academic achievement gap between the child and their classmates by contributing to inappropriate school placements, enrollment delays, lost credits, and drop-outs.
“Foster youth are one of the most at-risk groups of all student populations. Currently, fewer than 3 percent of young people in foster care who graduate from high school will earn a college degree by the age of 25. S.3472 will create more opportunities for academic success for students in foster care, bridging that gap between them and their peers.”
The Uninterrupted Scholars Act was proposed in response to a field visit to Florida by the Caucus in March, 2012. As part of a National Listening Tour, the Caucus participated in a series of site visits and roundtable discussions with service providers, local politicians, and representatives of foster youth driven advocacy groups in Florida’s 20th Congressional District.
“The Tour shed much needed light on the everyday challenges faced by foster youth, particularly in Broward County. I was proud to draw well-deserved attention to the members of our community who work tirelessly to give young people in foster care a voice and fight for a better child welfare system.
“For many foster youth, the child welfare system is all they have. The difficulties they confront are exacerbated when that system fails them. Signing the Uninterrupted Scholars Act dismantles one of the obstacles preventing them from achieving their dreams and aspirations, which is in everyone’s best interest.”
S.3472 was passed by the 113th Congress on January 3.
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.

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Alexia Nechayev

FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach/Miami)

Alexia Nechayev, from Miami, Florida, is a dedicated advocate for youth with lived experience in foster care and with homelessness. After being placed in foster care as a teenager, Alexia experienced firsthand the stigma surrounding the system, as well as the challenges of navigating a system that didn’t provide support for her to advocate for herself. This experience motivated her to create change, ensuring that other youth in care have the tools and resources she lacked.

She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University, and upon graduation worked as a Hope Navigator with the Department of Children and Families which allowed her to assist clients through individualized care plans, further deepening her commitment to improving the lives of marginalized youth. Alexia is now applying to law schools with the goal of advancing her advocacy work through a legal career. As the Events and Meetings Chair for Florida Youth SHINE (FYS), she creates opportunities for foster and homeless youth to collaborate and push for meaningful change. She is also an active member of the Policy and Initiative Team for Florida Youth SHINE, where she helps create and shape policies that directly impact youth in foster care. One of her proudest accomplishments is helping to develop the Foster Care Bill of Rights, a law that she feels would have made a difference during her own time in care.

In addition to her work with FYS, Alexia serves on the Board of Directors for the parent organization of FYS, Florida’s Children First. In this role, she contributes to strategic decision-making while advocating for the rights and welfare of children statewide.

Every year, she travels to the state capitol to advocate for bills she and her peers have helped shape, including key pieces of legislation that benefit foster and homeless youth. However her advocacy extends beyond her state, as she represents Florida Youth SHINE at national conferences such as the National Leaders 4 Change Conference.

Through her internship with the National Foster Youth Institute, Alexia continues to refine her advocacy skills, preparing for a future where she can contribute meaningfully to both policymaking and the legal system. Guided by the belief that “the blue sky is always there,” she remains committed to ensuring that every youth in foster care has the power and support to advocate for themselves.

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