Littleton Public Schools Policy

Policy Code    JFABD Policy Name Homeless Students Adoption October 9, 2003 Revised

The District recognizes the value of removing barriers to the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youths in school in accordance with state and federal law. The following guidelines are provided regarding homeless children and their families.

Definition

The term “homeless children” is defined in the federal law to include the following:

Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; including

children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

children and youths who 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;

children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

migratory children who are living in circumstances described in the clauses above.

Homeless Student Liaison

The Superintendent shall designate at least one staff member in the district to serve as a homeless student liaison in accordance with federal and state laws.

The liaison shall work to ensure the identification, school enrollment, attendance, and opportunities for academic success of students in homeless situations.

The liaison shall mediate disputes concerning school enrollment, assist in making transportation arrangements, assist in requesting student records, provide information and give referrals on services and opportunities, and assist any homeless child who is not in the custody of a parent or guardian with enrollment decisions.

Enrollment of Homeless Students

A homeless student currently living outside of the district in which the school of origin is located may be deemed to reside, and may attend school in:

            the district where the child is presently located, or

            the district in which the school of origin is located; except that a homeless student who becomes permanently housed outside that district during the school year may only continue for the remainder of the year.

In determining the best interests of the homeless student, except when it is against the wishes of the student’s parent or guardian, the district shall keep the homeless student in the school of origin to the extent feasible.

If the district sends the homeless student to a school other than the school of origin or to a school other than the one requested by the student’s parent or guardian, the district shall provide written explanation to the parent or guardian, including the right to appeal the decision.

If a homeless student is not in the custody of a parent or guardian, the liaison shall assist with enrollment decisions, consider the wishes of the student, and give the student notice of the right to appeal.

If an enrollment dispute arises between the homeless student’s parent or guardian and the district, the student shall be immediately enrolled in the school selected by the parent or guardian until the dispute is resolved.

Enrollment shall be immediate even if the student lacks records routinely required prior to enrollment. The school shall then make arrangements to obtain any necessary records and to have the student receive any necessary immunizations.

Transportation

If the student resides in the district where the school of origin is located, the district shall, upon request, provide or arrange for the student’s transportation to and from school as comparable to transportation services provided to other students in the school.

If the student attends the school of origin but seeks shelter or is located in another district, both must, upon request, either agree on a method to apportion cost and responsibility for the student’s transportation or share the cost and responsibility equally.

Services

Each homeless child shall be provided services for which the child is eligible, comparable to services provided to other students in the school, regardless of residency, including transportation services, education services, and school nutrition programs.

Homeless children shall be provided access to education and other services that such children need to ensure that they have an opportunity to meet the same student performance standards to which all students are held.

The district shall coordinate with other districts and with local social services agencies and other agencies or programs providing services to homeless children as needed.

Legal References:   42 U.S.C. §11431 et seq. (McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by
                              No Child Left Behind Act of 2002)

C.R.S. 22-1-102.5 (definition of homeless child)
C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(dd) (duty to adopt/revise policies to remove barriers
                              to access and success in schools for homeless children)
C.R.S. 22-33-103.5 (attendance of homeless children)
                              C.R.S. 26-5.7-101 et seq. (Homeless Youth Act)