Current through Supplement No. 394, October, 2024
1. Locate and identify children and youth
experiencing homelessness within the district, whether or not they are
enrolled;
2. Post notice of rights,
that provides information regarding the educational rights of children and
youth experiencing homelessness, in all school buildings as well as other
locations in the district where services or assistance is provided to those
experiencing homelessness.
3.
Examine and revise, if necessary, existing school policies or rules that create
barriers to the enrollment of children or youth experiencing homelessness.
Examination and revision include identifying and removing barriers that prevent
such children and youth from receiving appropriate credit for full or partial
coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school, in
accordance with state, local, and school policies. Examination and revision
also include ensuring homeless children and youth who meet the relevant
eligibility criteria do not face barriers to accessing academic and
extracurricular activities, including magnet school, summer school, career and
technical education, advanced placement, online learning, and charter school
programs, if such programs are available at the state and local levels. School
districts are encouraged to cooperate with agencies and organizations for the
homeless to explore comprehensive, equivalent alternative educational programs
and support services for children and youth experiencing homelessness to
implement the intent of these rules.
4. Enact a policy prohibiting the segregation
of children and youth experiencing homelessness from other students enrolled in
the public school district.
5.
Immediately enroll a child or youth experiencing homelessness, pending
resolution of any dispute regarding in which school the child or youth shall be
enrolled.
6. Determine school
placement based on the best interests of a child or youth experiencing
homelessness. Each district, to the extent feasible, shall keep a child or
youth who is experiencing homelessness in the school of origin, except when
doing so is contrary to the wishes of the child's or youth's parents or
guardian. If the child or youth becomes permanently housed during an academic
year, enrollment must continue in the school of origin for the remainder of
that academic year unless the parents agree otherwise.
7. Designate an appropriate staff person as
local homeless liaison who is able and has been trained to carry out the
following duties:
a. Ensure children and youth
experiencing homelessness are identified by school personnel through outreach
and coordination activities with other entities and agencies;
b. Ensure children and youth experiencing
homelessness are enrolled in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed
in, schools of the district;
c.
Ensure families, children and youth experiencing homelessness receive
educational services for which they are eligible, including services through
head start programs, including early head start programs, under the Head Start
Act [
42 U.S.C.
9831, et seq.], early intervention services
under part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act [
20 U.S.C.
1431, et seq.], and other preschool programs
administered by the district, and referrals to health care services, dental
services, mental health services, and other appropriate services;
d. Ensure families and children and youth
experiencing homelessness receive referrals to health care services, dental
services, mental health and substance abuse services, housing services, and
other appropriate services;
e.
Ensure the parents or guardians of children and youth experiencing homelessness
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;
f.
Ensure public notice of the educational rights of children and youth
experiencing homelessness are disseminated in locations frequented by parents
or guardians of such children and youth, and unaccompanied youth, including
schools, shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens, in a manner and form
understandable to the parents and guardians of children and youth experiencing
homelessness and unaccompanied youth;
g. Ensure enrollment disputes are mediated in
accordance with
42
U.S.C. 11432(g)(3)(E), which
requires the following:
(1) The child or youth
must immediately be enrolled in the school in which enrollment is sought
pending resolution of the dispute;
(2) The parent or guardian of the child or
youth must be provided written explanation of the school's decision regarding
school selection or enrollment, including the rights of the parents, guardian,
or youth to appeal the decision;
(3) In the case of an unaccompanied youth,
the local educational agency liaison shall ensure the youth is enrolled
immediately in the school in which enrollment is sought pending resolution of
the dispute.
h. Ensure
the parent or guardian of a child or youth experiencing homelessness, or the
unaccompanied youth, is informed fully of all transportation services and is
assisted in accessing transportation to the school of enrollment;
i. Ensure school personnel receive
professional development and other support;
j. Ensure unaccompanied youth:
(1) Are enrolled in school;
(2) Have opportunities to meet the same
challenging academic standards as are established for other children and youth,
including implementation of the procedures under the Every Student Succeeds
Act; and
(3) Are informed of their
status as an independent student under Section 480 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 [
20
U.S.C. 1087vv] and that the youth may obtain
assistance from the local educational agency liaison to receive verification of
such status for the purposes of the free application for federal student aid
described in Section 483 of such Act [
20 U.S.C.
1090] ; and
k. Coordinate and collaborate with state
coordinator and community and school personnel responsible for the provision of
education and related services to children and youth experiencing
homelessness.
