5111.01 Homeless Students
5111.01 - HOMELESS STUDENTS
The District Administrator will appoint a Homeless Liaison whose general duty will be to safeguard the educational rights of children, youth, and unaccompanied youth who are homeless to attend school in this District. The Liaison must be notified immediately upon the enrollment or assignment of a child or youth who is without permanent housing. The Liaison will coordinate District operations and services so that:
The District Administrator will appoint a Homeless Liaison whose general duty will be to safeguard the educational rights of children, youth, and unaccompanied youth who are homeless to attend school in this District. The Liaison must be notified immediately upon the enrollment or assignment of a child or youth who is without permanent housing. The Liaison will coordinate District operations and services so that:
A. children, youth, and unaccompanied youth who are homeless are identified, with special attention given to the locating and enrolling of homeless children and youth who are not currently attending school;
B. children and youth without a permanent residence have a full and fair opportunity to succeed in school;
C. families, children and youth who are homeless receive all educational services for which they are eligible, including any District preschool programs, before and or after school programs, vocational and technical programs, programs for gifted and talented, school nutrition, transportation, and referrals to community health care services, dental services, mental health services, and other appropriate services;
D. parents or guardians of students who are homeless are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children;
E. public notice of the educational rights of children and youth who are homeless is disseminated at locations where such homeless families, children receive services, such as schools, family shelters, transitional housing programs, soup kitchens, public aid offices, county social services, city hall, food pantries, public libraries, court houses, and police stations;
F. enrollment/assignment disputes are mediated/handled as expeditiously as possible after receiving notice of the dispute in accordance with Board policy, District guidelines, and applicable laws;
G. the parents or guardians of any child and any unaccompanied homeless minor who are homeless are fully informed of transportation services including transportation to the school of origin and are assisted in accessing transportation to the school that is appropriately selected.
The Homeless Liaison has additional responsibilities to represent the educational interests of unaccompanied youth who are homeless.
Upon enrollment of a child or youth who is homeless, the Liaison will coordinate with appropriate administrative staff to assure that the school last attended by a homeless student is immediately contacted to provide relevant academic or other relevant records. If upon enrollment the student does not have any immunization required for enrollment by State law or any other medical records, the Liaison will assist the family or student in obtaining the immunizations or necessary medical records.
The Liaison will require that the student receives free school meals, school supplies, and any support materials necessary for the full participation of the student in the school.
The Liaison will also contact the Director of Transportation to assure transportation of the student who is homeless is provided in accordance with the Board's transportation policy and the McKinney Vento Act requirements.
Any disputes regarding the enrollment or assignment of a homeless student will be referred to the Liaison for expeditious resolution. The Liaison should attempt to resolve disputes. Following the District’s dispute process, any dispute which cannot be resolved by the Liaison should be reported to the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Office of the State Superintendent at the Department of Public Instruction.
As part of his/her assigned duties, the Liaison will coordinate and collaborate with the State Coordinator for Homeless Children and other community and school personnel responsible for providing education and related services to homeless children including but not limited to:
D. parents or guardians of students who are homeless are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children;
E. public notice of the educational rights of children and youth who are homeless is disseminated at locations where such homeless families, children receive services, such as schools, family shelters, transitional housing programs, soup kitchens, public aid offices, county social services, city hall, food pantries, public libraries, court houses, and police stations;
F. enrollment/assignment disputes are mediated/handled as expeditiously as possible after receiving notice of the dispute in accordance with Board policy, District guidelines, and applicable laws;
G. the parents or guardians of any child and any unaccompanied homeless minor who are homeless are fully informed of transportation services including transportation to the school of origin and are assisted in accessing transportation to the school that is appropriately selected.
The Homeless Liaison has additional responsibilities to represent the educational interests of unaccompanied youth who are homeless.
Upon enrollment of a child or youth who is homeless, the Liaison will coordinate with appropriate administrative staff to assure that the school last attended by a homeless student is immediately contacted to provide relevant academic or other relevant records. If upon enrollment the student does not have any immunization required for enrollment by State law or any other medical records, the Liaison will assist the family or student in obtaining the immunizations or necessary medical records.
The Liaison will require that the student receives free school meals, school supplies, and any support materials necessary for the full participation of the student in the school.
The Liaison will also contact the Director of Transportation to assure transportation of the student who is homeless is provided in accordance with the Board's transportation policy and the McKinney Vento Act requirements.
Any disputes regarding the enrollment or assignment of a homeless student will be referred to the Liaison for expeditious resolution. The Liaison should attempt to resolve disputes. Following the District’s dispute process, any dispute which cannot be resolved by the Liaison should be reported to the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Office of the State Superintendent at the Department of Public Instruction.
As part of his/her assigned duties, the Liaison will coordinate and collaborate with the State Coordinator for Homeless Children and other community and school personnel responsible for providing education and related services to homeless children including but not limited to:
A. School District services with local social service agencies and other agencies or programs providing services to children and youth who are homeless, their families; and
B. With other school districts on inter-district issues, such as transportation or the transfer of school records.
Such coordination should be designed to: (1) facilitate children and youth who are homeless having access and reasonable proximity to available education and related support services; and (2) raise the awareness of school personnel and service providers of the effects of short-term stays in a shelter and other challenges associated with homelessness.
As part of his/her assigned duties, the Homeless Liaison will inform school personnel, community services providers, and advocates working with families and unaccompanied youth, who are considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act, the educational rights of the parents and students, the responsibilities of the district, and about his/her duties.
© Neola 2010
B. With other school districts on inter-district issues, such as transportation or the transfer of school records.
Such coordination should be designed to: (1) facilitate children and youth who are homeless having access and reasonable proximity to available education and related support services; and (2) raise the awareness of school personnel and service providers of the effects of short-term stays in a shelter and other challenges associated with homelessness.
As part of his/her assigned duties, the Homeless Liaison will inform school personnel, community services providers, and advocates working with families and unaccompanied youth, who are considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act, the educational rights of the parents and students, the responsibilities of the district, and about his/her duties.
© Neola 2010
5111.01 - HOMELESS STUDENTS
Children and youth, including unaccompanied youth who meet the Federal definition of "homeless" will be provided a free appropriate public education in the same manner as all other students of the District. To that end, students who are homeless will not be stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless and will be assigned to the school serving those non-homeless students residing in the area in which the homeless child is actually living. The District shall establish safeguards that protect homeless students from discrimination on the basis of their homelessness.
Homeless children and youth are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and include those who meet any of the following criteria:
Children and youth, including unaccompanied youth who meet the Federal definition of "homeless" will be provided a free appropriate public education in the same manner as all other students of the District. To that end, students who are homeless will not be stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless and will be assigned to the school serving those non-homeless students residing in the area in which the homeless child is actually living. The District shall establish safeguards that protect homeless students from discrimination on the basis of their homelessness.
Homeless children and youth are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and include those who meet any of the following criteria:
A. share the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
B. live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative adequate accommodations
C. live in emergency or transitional shelters
D. are abandoned in hospitals
E. are awaiting foster care placement
F. have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, or
G. live in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting
Additionally, pursuant to Federal law, migratory children who are living in circumstances described in A-G above are also considered homeless.
Children, youth and their families who are homeless shall be provided equal access to the educational services for which they are eligible, including preschool programs administered by the School District.
The District shall remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of students who are homeless in schools in the District. Students who are homeless shall be enrolled immediately, even if they do not have the necessary enrollment documentation such as immunization and health records, proof of residency or guardianship, birth certificate, school records, and other documentation.
Students who are homeless will be provided services comparable to other students in the District including:
B. live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative adequate accommodations
C. live in emergency or transitional shelters
D. are abandoned in hospitals
E. are awaiting foster care placement
F. have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, or
G. live in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting
Additionally, pursuant to Federal law, migratory children who are living in circumstances described in A-G above are also considered homeless.
Children, youth and their families who are homeless shall be provided equal access to the educational services for which they are eligible, including preschool programs administered by the School District.
The District shall remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of students who are homeless in schools in the District. Students who are homeless shall be enrolled immediately, even if they do not have the necessary enrollment documentation such as immunization and health records, proof of residency or guardianship, birth certificate, school records, and other documentation.
Students who are homeless will be provided services comparable to other students in the District including:
A. transportation services;
B. educational services for which the homeless student meets eligibility criteria including services provided under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or similar State or local programs, educational programs for children with disabilities, and educational programs for students with limited English proficiency;
C. programs in vocational and technical education;
D. programs for gifted and talented students;
E. school nutrition programs;
F. before and after school programs.
Students who are homeless have the right to remain in their school of origin or the local attendance area school, according to the child's best interest. The school of origin is the school that the student attended when permanently housed or last enrolled. The local attendance area school is any public school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the student is actually living are eligible to attend.
Students who are homeless have the right to dispute their school assignment, if their assignment is other than their school of origin. In determining the best interest of the student, the District shall, to the extent feasible, keep the student in the school of origin, except when doing so is contrary to the wishes of the homeless student's parent or guardian or the unaccompanied youth. If the student is sent to a school other than the school of origin or a school requested by the parent or guardian, a written explanation, including a statement regarding the right to appeal, will be provided to the homeless student's parent or guardian or the unaccompanied youth.
The Board of Education requires that these rights and the dispute process be communicated to the parent or guardian of the homeless student or unaccompanied youth.
In addition to notifying the parent or guardian of the homeless student or unaccompanied youth of the rights described above, the District shall post public notice of educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness in each school.
At the request of the parent or guardian, or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the local homeless liaison, transportation shall be provided for a homeless student to and from the school or origin as follows:
A. If the homeless student continues to live in the School District in which the school of origin is located, transportation will be provided in accordance with District policy/administrative guidelines and federal requirements.
B. If the homeless student moves to an area served by another district, though continuing his/her education at the school of origin, the district of origin and the district in which the student resides must agree upon a method to apportion responsibility and costs for transportation to the school of origin. If the districts cannot agree upon such a method, the responsibility and costs must be shared equally.
The District Administrator will appoint a Homeless Liaison who will perform the duties as assigned by the District Administrator. Additionally, the Liaison will coordinate and collaborate with the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth as well as with community and school personnel responsible for the provision of education and basic needs services to children and youths who are homeless.
http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/youthposeter_eng_color.pdf
42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.
© Neola 2010
B. educational services for which the homeless student meets eligibility criteria including services provided under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or similar State or local programs, educational programs for children with disabilities, and educational programs for students with limited English proficiency;
C. programs in vocational and technical education;
D. programs for gifted and talented students;
E. school nutrition programs;
F. before and after school programs.
Students who are homeless have the right to remain in their school of origin or the local attendance area school, according to the child's best interest. The school of origin is the school that the student attended when permanently housed or last enrolled. The local attendance area school is any public school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the student is actually living are eligible to attend.
Students who are homeless have the right to dispute their school assignment, if their assignment is other than their school of origin. In determining the best interest of the student, the District shall, to the extent feasible, keep the student in the school of origin, except when doing so is contrary to the wishes of the homeless student's parent or guardian or the unaccompanied youth. If the student is sent to a school other than the school of origin or a school requested by the parent or guardian, a written explanation, including a statement regarding the right to appeal, will be provided to the homeless student's parent or guardian or the unaccompanied youth.
The Board of Education requires that these rights and the dispute process be communicated to the parent or guardian of the homeless student or unaccompanied youth.
In addition to notifying the parent or guardian of the homeless student or unaccompanied youth of the rights described above, the District shall post public notice of educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness in each school.
At the request of the parent or guardian, or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the local homeless liaison, transportation shall be provided for a homeless student to and from the school or origin as follows:
A. If the homeless student continues to live in the School District in which the school of origin is located, transportation will be provided in accordance with District policy/administrative guidelines and federal requirements.
B. If the homeless student moves to an area served by another district, though continuing his/her education at the school of origin, the district of origin and the district in which the student resides must agree upon a method to apportion responsibility and costs for transportation to the school of origin. If the districts cannot agree upon such a method, the responsibility and costs must be shared equally.
The District Administrator will appoint a Homeless Liaison who will perform the duties as assigned by the District Administrator. Additionally, the Liaison will coordinate and collaborate with the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth as well as with community and school personnel responsible for the provision of education and basic needs services to children and youths who are homeless.
http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/youthposeter_eng_color.pdf
42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.
© Neola 2010