Ward of the State

• a child who, as determined by the State where the child resides, is a foster child, is a ward of the State or is the custody of a public child welfare agency. The term does not include a foster child who has a foster parent who otherwise meets the definition of parent.

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Speaker Notes:

Section 602

This term, which has been added to IDEA, is defined to mean a child who, as determined by the State where the child resides, is a foster child, is a ward of the State or is the custody of a public child welfare agency. The term does not include a foster child who has a foster parent who otherwise meets the definition of parent.