The academic success of students in schools across the state is a top priority for California policy-makers. But for some students, academic goals set by the state remain out of reach. The issue of "CenterView" concentrates of the situation of the more than 74,000 children in the California foster care system. By the standard measures most commonly cited (test scores, dropout rates, rates of college entry and completion), the achievement gap experienced by foster youth is significant, translating into fewer economic opportunities and more adverse outcomes, relegating many foster youth to a life-long sentence of struggle just to get by. This brief cites three key policy areas to focus improvements that lead to better educational outcomes for foster children and youth: (1) School Readiness; (2) School Success; and (3) Data Sharing. Recommendations within each area include measures to strengthen and increase access to high quality preschool; ensure school stability and increase training, support and incentives for educators; and improve the collection and sharing of data related to the educational progress of foster care youth.