Homeless Students
Homeless Liaison
fandrews [at] sad4 [dot] com (Fred Andrews) - K-12
876-3577
Who is Homeless?
- An Individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:
- Sharing housing due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate housing
- Living in emergency or transitional housing
- Abandoned in hospitals
- Awaiting foster care
- Having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
- Migratory students meeting the descriptions above
Signs Which May Indicate Homelessness:
- Lack of continuity in education
- Poor health/nutrition
- Transportation and attendance problems
- Poor hygiene
- Lack of privacy/personal space after school
- Social and behavioral concerns
- Reactions/statements by parent, guardian, or child
Requirements for Schools Regarding Homeless Students
The McKinney-Vento Act provides certain rights for homeless students. They include waiving certain requirements such as proof of residency when students are enrolling and allowing categorical eligibility for certain services, such as free textbooks. The Act also states:
- Homeless students may attend their school of origin or the school where they are temporarily residing
- Homeless students must be provided written statement of their rights when they enroll and at least two times per year.
- Homeless students may enroll without school, medical or similar records.
- Students must be provided a statement explaining why they are denied any service or enrollment.
- Homeless students have a right to transportation to school.
- Students are automatically eligible for Title I services.
- School districts must reserve a portion of Title IA funds to serve homeless students.
- School districts must review and revise policies that provide barriers to homeless students.
- School district must identify a Liaison to assist students.