501.17 - Homeless Children and Youth

The board will make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children and youth of school age within the district, encourage their enrollment and eliminate existing barriers to their receiving an education which may exist in district policies or practices.  The designated coordinator for identification of homeless children and for tracking and monitoring programs and activities for these children is Guidance Counselor.

A homeless child is defined as a child or youth between the ages of 5 and 21 who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes a child or youth who is living on the street, in a car, tent or abandoned building or some other form of shelter not designed as a permanent home; who is living in a community shelter facility; or who is living with non-nuclear family members or with friends, who may or may not have legal guardianship over the child or youth of school age.

So that enrollment of homeless children and youth of school age may be facilitated, the following policy areas are modified as follows:          

School Records: For students transferring out of the district, records may be provided directly to the student or the student’s parents.  In addition, students transferring into the school district may provide cumulative records directly to the district.  The school district will not require that such records be forwarded from another school district before that student may enroll.  The school will then request the official records from the previous school.

Immunization Requirement: Homeless students will not be denied enrollment for lack of immunization records if:

1. They have a statement signed by a physician stating that immunization would be injurious to the student
2. They provide an affidavit stating such immunization would conflict with their religious beliefs
3. They are in the process of being immunized
4. They are a transfer student from another school

The school district will make a reasonable effort to locate immunization records from the information provided or will arrange for the student to receive immunizations.

Waiver of Fees and Charges: Fees and charges which may present a barrier to the enrollment or transfer of a homeless child or youth may be waived in the discretion of the superintendent.

Enrollment Requirements/Placement: Enrollment requirements which may constitute a barrier to the education of the homeless child or youth may be waived in the discretion of the superintendent.  If the school district is unable to determine the grade level of the student because of missing or incomplete records, the school district will administer tests or utilize other reasonable means to determine the appropriate grade level for the child.

Residency: For purposes of a homeless child or youth, residence for the purpose of attending school is where the child actually resides for the purpose of attending school is where the child actually resides or the child’s school district of origin.  A child’s school district of origin is the school district where the child was last enrolled.  The deciding factor is the welfare of the child.  As much as possible, the child will not be required to change attendance centers within the school district every time the child changes residence unless that change results in the child no longer being classified as homeless.

Transportation: Policies or practices regarding transportation of students which might cause a barrier to the attendance of a homeless child or youth may be waived by the superintendent.

Special Services:  All services which are available to resident students are made available to homeless children or youths enrolled in the school district.  Services include special education, talented and gifted programs, vocational education, English as a second language programs, health services and food and nutrition programs.

The contents of this policy will supersede any and all conflicting provisions in board policies dealing with the seven policy areas discussed above.

 

 

Legal Reference:  No Child Left Behind, Title X, Sec. 722, P.L. 107-110 (2002)
                                       42 U.S.C. §§11431 et seq. (1994)

Cross Reference:  281        I.A.C. 33
                                       501        Student Attendance
                                       503.3    Fines-Fees-Charges
                                       506        Student Records
                                       507.1     Student Health and Immunization Certificates
                                       603.3    Special Education
                                       711.1    Student School Transportation Eligibility

Approved:  2-10-03              
Reviewed:  10-08-18            
Revised: