Regulation JBC(1)-R(1): Homeless Students

Homeless Students

1. Homelessness Defined

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Act), 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a(2) et.seq., identifies homeless students as those who:

1. lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence;

2. share the housing of other persons due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; live in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

3. 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;

4. live in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; or

5. are migratory and live in the conditions set forth in items a, b, c, and d above.

6. Enrollment of & School Selection for Homeless Students

7. Identification of Homeless Students

8. The principal or designee shall notify the homeless liaison when a homeless student is identified.

9. The school will provide the parent, caretaker, or unaccompanied youth a Student Residency Form to complete in addition to the required DeKalb County School System enrollments forms. The school will utilize the information provided in determining school selection.

10. School Selection

11. Homeless students must:

12. enroll in the school serving the attendance zone where the student resides; or

13. continue enrollment in the school-of-origin.

14. A homeless student who attends his/her school-of-origin may:

15. attend that school for the duration of homelessness;

16. stay in the school for the remainder of the academic year, if the student becomes permanently housed during the academic year; or

17. attend their school for the duration of homelessness, if the student becomes homeless between academic years.

18. If the enrolling school makes a decision regarding school selection other than the decision of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth, then the school parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth may contact the Office of the Homeless Liaison (See Dispute Resolution-JBC(1) Section V11 for complete explanation).

19. The school shall provide the parent/guardian with information regarding the

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program.

1. If a homeless student arrives at school without a parent/guardian, the student shall be enrolled and the school social worker will be notified. The school social worker will contact the parent/guardian if appropriate to complete the enrollment process. Students must meet the school district’s age eligibility criteria for enrollment.

2. Homeless students qualify for free breakfast and lunch immediately upon enrollment. Student names and identification numbers will be submitted to the Department of Food and Nutrition Services.

3. When students enroll without records (i.e., transcripts/grade reports, birth certificate, immunizations/health records), the principal or designee shall:

4. contact the student’s former school to request the student’s records and discuss immunization information and tentative placement;

5. create a cumulative record if it is determined that the records are not available; and

6. refer the student to public health and provide follow-up to ensure that the student has been immunized, if there are no immunization records.

7. Parents/guardians shall provide the school with contact information.

8. Withdrawal:

Homeless students often leave school without officially withdrawing. If the school is contacted by another district for a homeless student’s records, requested information shall be provided and school records sent within 15 days to the requesting school district. Enrollment may not be delayed pending receipt of records.

1. Transportation

Transportation will be provided to and from the school-of-origin if requested by the parent/guardian/unaccompanied youth in order for the child to remain in their school-of-origin. Requests may be made directly to the homeless liaison or the school social worker. Provision of transportation assistance will be made in the best interest of the child.

1. Unaccompanied Youth

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines unaccompanied youth as youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian who are eligible for immediate school enrollment [42 U.S.C. §11434A (6)]. Therefore, schools may not condition school enrollment upon the receipt of proof of legal guardianship by caregivers of homeless, unaccompanied youth; nor may they require caregivers to become legal guardians within a certain period of time after the child enrolls in school.

The absence of an available caregiver must not impede enrollment. Unaccompanied, homeless youth, who are on their own completely, must be enrolled in school immediately, even if the child or youth is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, medical records, proof of residency, or other documentation [42 U.S.C. §§11432(g)(3)( C)(i)].

1. Caregiver Authorization Form

The Caregiver Authorization Form may be used to permit enrollment without a parent or legal guardian. However, some unaccompanied youth are forced to live on their own and are not able to seek support from a caregiver. The caregiver form in this case may act as a barrier to enrollment of unaccompanied youth and all homeless children and youth. This form should not create further barriers or delay school enrollment.

1. Dispute Resolution

According to DeKalb County School System’s Policy JBC(1), any decision made by the principal regarding the enrollment or continued enrollment of a student declaring him/herself to be homeless, whether accompanied or unaccompanied by a guardian may be appealed through the provisions of DeKalb Board of Education policy JCE– R Student Complaints and Grievances.

1. If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment:

2. The student shall be immediately admitted to the school in which he/she is seeking enrollment, pending resolution of dispute.

3. The parent/guardian/unaccompanied youth shall be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision, including the right to appeal.

4. The dispute shall be presented to the district’s homeless liaison.

5. If the matter is not resolved at that level, the Office of the Homeless Liaison and the Office of School Assignment collectively shall issue the district’s decision.

6. The school the child attends shall be whichever is in the student’s best interest. In determining the best interests of the student, efforts shall be made, to the extent feasible, to keep the student in his/her school-of-origin unless doing so is against the wishes of the parent/guardian.

7. Once the district’s decision has been reached, the parent/guardian shall be provided with a written explanation of the district’s decision and the parent/guardian’s right to appeal such a decision (Written Notification of Enrollment Decision Form and Dispute Resolution Form).

If the enrolling school makes a decision regarding school selection other than the decision of the parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth, the enrolling school must:

1. enroll the student until the dispute is resolved;

2. provide written notification of the enrollment decision; and

3. provide a copy of the Dispute Resolution Form.

In the case of an unaccompanied youth, the enrolling school or enrolling personnel will:

1. enroll the student in the school until the dispute is resolved; and

2. contact the homeless liaison to facilitate services for the unaccompanied youth.

The parent, guardian, or, unaccompanied youth may submit a completed Dispute Resolution Form to the Georgia Homeless Education Department to begin the dispute resolution process. This information may be shared verbally with the homeless liaison as an alternative to completing the form. Until the dispute is resolved, the student will remain enrolled in the school to which he or she initially presented himself/herself.

1. Role of Homeless Liaison

The role of the DeKalb County School System Homeless Liaison is to ensure that:

1. Homeless students:

2. are identified by school personnel;

3. enroll in and have an equal opportunity to succeed in school;

4. receive educational services for which they are eligible; and

5. are referred by the school nurse or school social workers to community agencies for help with health and dental needs.

6. Parents/guardians of homeless students/ unaccompanied youths are informed of educational programs and tutorial services. Parent involvement activities include meeting with teachers and attending Title I Parent Conferences.

7. Public notices of the educational rights of homeless students are disseminated in schools and places such as family shelters, soup kitchens, and motels/hotels.

8. Enrollment disputes are resolved in compliance with State guidelines and, in the event that such a dispute involves an unaccompanied student that the student is enrolled immediately pending the resolution of the dispute.

9. The parent/guardian is informed of the transportation services provided, including transportation to the school-of-origin.