EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN HOMELESS SITUATIONS
The Wellesley Public Schools complies with federal and state laws and regulations in the identification and education of children who are in homeless situations. The intent of this policy is to provide stability in school attendance and access to a free and appropriate public education to students and their families who are homeless to the extent that is feasible and required by state and federal law. A brief overview of the requirements is provided below.
Definitions
The Massachusetts Department of Education has adopted Section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act regarding the definition of homeless children and youth as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or have a primary nighttime residence in a supervised, publicly or privately operated shelter for temporary accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill), an institution providing temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Liaison
The Superintendent has designated the Director of Student Services as the local homeless education liaison. The responsibility of the liaison includes the identification, enrollment and monitoring of students who are homeless to ensure that they have immediate and full opportunity to succeed in the Wellesley Public Schools.
Student’s Rights
The Wellesley Public Schools will immediately enroll homeless children in school, even if they do not have the documents usually required for enrollment, such as school records, medical records or proof of residency. Students will be maintained in the school of origin except when that is contradictory to the wishes of the student or guardian, or when it is not in the student’s best interest.
The Wellesley Public Schools will ensure that transportation is provided, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the Liaison, to and from the current living situation to the school of origin.
Students who are homeless are automatically assessed for eligibility for Title I services, regardless of what school they attend, if such services are offered for that student’s assigned grade. Homeless students will be provided the district services for which they are eligible, including pre-school programs, Title I, similar state programs, special education, English Language Learner education, and any other appropriate district wide programs.
It is the policy of the Wellesley Public Schools to ensure that homeless children are able to participate in federal, state, or local food programs. School lunch and other nutrition programs offered by the district will be made available to these children.
Dispute Resolution
The Wellesley Public Schools will utilize the procedures for Dispute Resolution as defined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act Section 722(g); 42 U.S.C.11432(g). If there is an enrollment dispute, the student shall immediately enroll in the school in which the enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute. The parent or guardian shall be informed of the district’s decision and their appeal rights in writing, and the district’s liaison will carry out dispute resolute as provided by state rule.
Legal reference: NCLB, Title X, Part C
Approved: February 15, 2005 |
