Board Policies
Adoption Date: 06/22/2021
History: 3/22/22 (reviewed), 2/14/23 (updated), 2/13/24 (updated)
The term “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and aligns with the federal McKinney-Vento act definition. The term includes:
- Children and youth who are:
- Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as “doubled up”);
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
- Living in emergency or transitional shelters; or
- Abandoned in hospitals.
- Children and youth who 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;
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.
To help ensure that homeless children and youth have a full opportunity to enroll, attend, and succeed at school, the board shall:
- The Board will designate the local homeless children and youth liaison;
- Provide training opportunities for staff so staff may help identify and meet the needs of homeless children and youth;
- Remove barriers, including those associated with fees, fines, and absences, to the identification, enrollment, retention, attendance and/or success in school for homeless children and youth;
- Ensure collaboration and coordination with other service providers;
- Ensure transportation is provided in accordance with legal requirements;
- Provide school stability in school assignment according to the child’s best interests;
- Ensure the privacy of student records, as provided by applicable law, including information about a homeless child or youth’s living situation;
- Engage in the dispute resolution process for decisions relating to the educational placement of homeless children and youth as provided by applicable law; and
- Prohibit the segregation of a homeless child or youth from other students enrolled in the district.
- Immediately enroll a homeless child or youth, pending resolution of any dispute regarding school enrollment.
The superintendent or designee may develop an administrative process or procedures to implement this policy.
Policy References:
Legal Reference:
20 U.S.C. § 6301.
42 U.S.C. § 11302.
42 U.S.C. §§ 11431 et seq.
281 I.A.C. 33.
Cross Reference:
503.3 Fines - Fees - Charges
503.3R1 Fines - Fees - Charges - Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures
503.3E1 Fines - Fees - Charges - Standard Fee Waiver Application
507.1 Student Health and Immunization Certificates
603.3 Special Education
711.1 Student School Transportation Eligibility
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