Valuable Information For Homeless Students

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act provides certain rights and protections for students experiencing homelessness. Students experiencing homelessness are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and nighttime residence, which includes the following conditions:

• Temporarily sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason.

• Living in motels, hotels, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.

• Living in emergency, transitional, or domestic violence shelters.

• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings.

• Unaccompanied youth who also meet the definition of homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act.

Students experiencing transition have the right to:

• School enrollment even without proper enrollment documentation.

• Attend the school of residency or the school of origin. The school of origin is where the student was last enrolled or where they attended school when permanently housed.

• Remain enrolled in the child’s school for the duration of homelessness and through the academic year if they become permanently housed.

• Access to the same programs and services available to all students.

• Transportation to and-or from school.

Dispute Resolution
 
Homeless families and youths have the right to challenge placement and enrollment decisions. If a dispute arises between a school and a parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth regarding eligibility, school selection, or enrollment of a homeless student, the District must follow its dispute resolution procedures, consistent with the State established procedures. If such a dispute occurs, the District will immediately enroll the homeless student in the school in which enrollment is sought pending final resolution of the dispute, including all appeals. The student will receive all services for which they are eligible until all disputes and appeals are resolved.
 
Pursuant to State, District and Board of Education policies, the District will provide the parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth with a written explanation of all decisions regarding school selection and enrollment made by the school, District, or State, along with a written explanation of appeal rights.
 
The District’s notice and written explanation about the reason for its decision will include, at a minimum, an explanation of how the school reached its decision regarding eligibility, school selection, or enrollment, including 1) a description of the proposed or refused action by the school, 2) an explanation of why the action is proposed or refused, 3) a description of other options the school considered and why those options were rejected, 4) a description of any other relevant factors to the school’s decision and information related to the eligibility or best interest determination such as the facts, witnesses, and evidence relied upon and their sources, and 5) an appropriate timeline to ensure deadlines are not missed.  The District must also include contact information for the Liaison and the State Coordinator, and a brief description of their roles.  The District will also refer the parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth to the Liaison, who will carry out the dispute resolution process.
 
The District ensures that all decisions and notices are drafted in a language and format appropriate for low-literacy, limited vision readers, and individuals with disabilities. For children and youth and/or parents or guardians who are English learners or whose dominant language is not English, the District will provide translation and interpretation services in connection with all phases of the dispute resolution process pursuant to Federal laws. The District will also provide electronic notices via email if the parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth has access to email followed by a written notice provided in person or sent by mail.

If you are experiencing homelessness, would like more information regarding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, or need to dispute a resolution, please contact School District of Sheboygan Falls Homeless Liaison:

Printer-friendly version of district’s homelessness brochure.