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EASTON AREA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
No. 251
SECTION:
PUPILS
TITLE:
HOMELESS STUDENTS
ADOPTED:
March 5, 2007
REVISED:
251. HOMELESS STUDENTS
1.
Authority
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11431 et seq
SC 1306
Title 22
Sec. 11.18
The Board recognizes its obligation to ensure that homeless students have access to
the same educational programs and services provided to other district students. The
Board shall make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children within the district,
encourage their enrollment, and eliminate existing barriers to their attendance and
education, in compliance with federal and state law and regulations.
The Board may waive policies, procedures and administrative regulations that create
barriers for enrollment, attendance, transportation and success in school of homeless
students, based on the recommendation of the Superintendent.
2.
Definitions
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11434a
Homeless students are defined as individuals lacking a fixed, regular and nighttime
residence, which include the following conditions:
1.
Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic
hardship.
2.
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of
alternative adequate accommodations.
3.
Living in emergency, transitional or domestic violence shelters.
4.
Abandoned in hospitals.
5.
Awaiting foster care placement.
6.
Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as regular
sleeping accommodations for human beings.
7.
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing,
transportation stations or similar settings.
8.
Living as migratory children in conditions described in previous examples.
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9.
Living as run-away children.
10. Abandoned or forced out of homes by parents/guardians or caretakers.
11. Living as school age unwed mothers in houses for unwed mothers if they have
no other living accommodations.
School of origin is defined as the school the student attended when permanently
housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled.
3.
Delegation of
Responsibility
The Board designates the Superintendent to serve as the district's liaison for
homeless students and families.
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11432
The district's liaison shall coordinate with:
1.
Local service agencies that provide services to homeless children and youth and
families.
2.
Other school districts on issues of records transfer and transportation.
3.
State and local housing agencies responsible for comprehensive housing
affordability strategies.
Pol. 906
The district's liaison shall provide public notice of the educational rights of homeless
students in schools, family shelters, and soup kitchens.
4.
Guidelines
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11431
Students shall not be discriminated against, segregated nor stigmatized based on
their status as homeless.
Enrollment/Placement
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11432
To the extent feasible, and in accordance with the student's best interest, a homeless
student shall continue to be enrolled in his/her school of origin while s/he remains
homeless or until the end of the academic year in which s/he obtains permanent
housing. Parents/Guardians of a homeless student may request enrollment in the
school in the attendance area where the student is actually living or other schools. If
a student is unaccompanied by a parent/guardian, the district liaison will consider the
views of the student in determining where s/he will be enrolled.
Pol. 201, 203,
204, 209, 216
The selected school shall immediately enroll the student and begin instruction, even
if the student is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment pursuant
to district policies. However, the district may require a parent/guardian to submit
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contact information. The district liaison may contact the previous school for oral
confirmation of immunizations, and the school shall request records from the
previous district, pursuant to Board policy.
If the district is unable to determine the student's grade level due to missing or
incomplete records, the district shall administer tests or utilize appropriate means to
determine the student's placement.
If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment, the student shall be
immediately enrolled in the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution
of the dispute. The parents/guardians shall be provided with a written explanation of
the district's decision, their right to appeal and the procedures to use for the appeal.
Services
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11432
SC 1306
Homeless students shall be provided services comparable to those offered to other
district students including, but not limited to, transportation services; school
nutrition programs; vocational programs and technical education; preschool
programs; programs for students with limited English proficiency; and educational
services for which students meet eligibility criteria, such as programs for
disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and gifted and talented students.
Transportation
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11432
SC 1306
The district shall provide transportation for homeless students to their school of
origin or the school they choose to attend within the school district.
If the school of origin is outside district boundaries or homeless students live in
another district but will attend their school of origin in this district, the school
districts shall agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs of the
transportation.
School Code
1306
PA Code
Title 22
Sec. 11.18
Sec. 403.1
251. HOMELESS STUDENTS - Pg. 4
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20 U.S.C.
Sec. 6301
42 U.S.C.
Sec. 11432 et seq
34 CFR
Part 99
67 Fed. Reg.
10698
PA Education for
Homeless Children
and Youth State Plan
Board Policy
201, 203, 204,
209, 216, 810,