5118.1(a)
Students
Homeless Students
The
Board shall make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children within the
district, encourage their enrollment and eliminate existing barriers to their
education, which may exist in district policies or practices, in compliance
with all applicable federal and state laws.
Further,
it is the policy of the Board of Education that no child or youth shall be
discriminated against or stigmatized in this school district because of
homelessness. Homeless
students, as defined by federal and state
statutes, residing within the district or residing in temporary shelters
in the district are entitled to free school privileges.
Homeless
students within the district not placed in a shelter remain the district’s
responsibility to provide continued educational services. Such services for the
child may be:
1. continued
in the school (“school of origin”) that the student attended when permanently
housed or the school of last enrollment; or
2. provided in the school that is attended
by other students living in the same attendance area where the homeless child
lives.
To
the extent feasible, a homeless child will be kept in the school of origin,
unless it is against the wishes of the parent/guardian.
Homeless
children shall be provided educational services that are comparable to those
provided to other students enrolled in the district, including but not limited
to, Title I, transportation services, compensatory educational programs, gifted
and talented, special education, ESL, health services and food and nutrition
programs.
The
Superintendent of Schools shall refer identified homeless children under the
age of eighteen who may reside within the school district, unless such children
are emancipated minors, to the Connecticut Department of Children and
Families.
The district administration shall
attempt to remove existing barriers to school attendance by homeless
emancipated minors and youth eighteen years of age:
1. The selected school for the homeless
child shall enroll the child, even in the absence of records normally required
for enrollment. The last school enrolled shall be contacted to obtain records.
2. Other enrollment requirements that may
constitute a barrier to the education of the homeless child or youth may be waived
at the discretion of the Superintendent. If the district is unable to determine
the student’s grade level due to missing or incomplete records, the district
shall administer tests or utilize other reasonable means to determine the
appropriate grade level for the child.
5118.1(b)
Students
Homeless Students
(continued)
3. Fees and charges, which may present a
barrier to the enrollment or transfer of a homeless child or youth, may be
waived at the discretion of the Superintendent.
4. Transportation services must be comparable to those provided other students in the selected school. Transportation shall be provided to the student’s school of origin in compliance with federal and state regulations.
5. Official school records policies and regulations shall be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent, in compliance with federal statutes.
6. The district shall make a reasonable
effort to locate immunization records from information available. The
District’s liaison shall assist the parent/guardian in obtaining the necessary
immunizations and records. The District shall arrange for students to receive
immunizations through health agencies and at District expense if no other
recourse is available. Immunizations may, however, be waived for homeless youth
only in accordance with provisions of Board of Education policy on
immunizations.
7. Other barriers to school attendance by homeless children or youth may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.
The
District’s educational liaison for homeless children is the Director of Pupil
Services.
Students residing in a temporary shelter are entitled to free school privileges from the district in which the shelter is located or from the school district where they would otherwise reside if not for the placement in the temporary shelter. The district in which the temporary shelter is located shall notify the district where the student would otherwise be attending. The district so notified may choose to either:
1. continue to provide educational services, including transportation between the temporary shelter and the school in the home district; or
2. pay tuition to the district in which
the temporary shelter is located.
The
Superintendent shall develop regulations, to ensure compliance with applicable
statutes in the implementation of this policy.
(cf. 5143 - Student Health Assessments and
Immunizations)
(cf. 5146 - Child Abuse and Neglect)
5118.1(c)
Students
Homeless Students
Legal
Reference: Connecticut General
Statutes
10-253(e) School privileges for children in certain placements, non resident children and children in temporary shelters.
17a‑101 Protection of children from
abuse. Reports required of certain
professional persons. When child may be
removed from surrounding without court order.
17a‑102
Report of danger of abuse.
17a‑103
Reports by others.
17a‑106 Cooperation in relation to prevention,
identification and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
46b‑120
Definitions.
McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act, (PL 107-110-Sec 1032) 42 U.S.C. §11431-11435
Policy adopted: March
9, 2004 EAST
HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Moodus,
Connecticut