Terrance is an 8th grade student who has moved through several foster homes. To determine if he needs special education services, the social worker should consult with whom for Terrance’s history?

• A. Schedule an interview with Terrance's new foster parents
• B. Call Terrance's previous school
• C. Consult with Terrance's case worker
• D. Contact Terrance's previous foster parents

Answer: (C)

When evaluating a student for special education, gather information from the person who coordinates the child’s welfare across placements. The case worker oversees Terrance’s foster care history, maintains records from multiple foster homes and schools, and can compile prior educational evaluations, IEPs or eligibility decisions, and relevant services. This ensures you get a complete, current picture of Terrance’s educational needs and the contexts that may affect them, with the proper consent and coordination to share records.

Other sources can contribute pieces of information, but they may lack the full history or up-to-date records. A new foster parent might observe current behavior, but they may not have access to past evaluations or the trajectory across placements. Contacting the previous school or former foster parents can yield useful details, yet records may be fragmented or outdated, and navigating consent and privacy through those channels is more complex. The case worker is the most reliable liaison to obtain a comprehensive history needed to determine eligibility for special education services.