• JECAA: Admission of Students Experiencing Homelessness

    Policy

    The Board of Education believes that all school-aged students, including students experiencing homelessness, have a fundamental right to equal educational opportunities. Accordingly, the District enrolls each student experiencing homelessness in the District school determined to be in the student’s best interest. To the extent feasible, the District keeps students experiencing homelessness in their school of origin unless the parent or guardian requests a change. The District complies with a request made by a parent(s) regarding school placement regardless of whether the student lives with the parent or parents experiencing homelessness or is temporarily residing elsewhere.

    Definition

    A student experiencing homelessness is an individual who lacks fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes children and youths who are:

    • “Doubling up” or sharing the housing with another family due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
    • Living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or campground due to the lack of adequate accommodations
    • Living in emergency shelters or transitional shelters
    • Abandoned in hospitals
    • Living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation
    • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
    • Migratory students

    Funding

    The District ensures compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act. In addition, the District provides Title I funds for supports and coordinates services for students experiencing homelessness with local social service agencies and programs, including those funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.

    District Responsibilities for Students Experiencing Homelessness and their Families

    • Review and revise Board policies and regulations to eliminate barriers to the enrollment, retention, and success of students experiencing homelessness
    • The District does not segregate students into separate schools or programs within a school based on their homeless status
    • Appoint a District liaison who eliminates all barriers to enrollment
    • Provide students with education, nutrition, and transportation services that are comparable to the services offered to other students and consistent with the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
    • Ensure assistance continues for the remainder of the time that a student is homeless or the program cycle if the student becomes permanently housed during the academic year
    • Comply with the Ohio Department of Education’s Plan and State and Federal laws for the education of homeless students.
    • Provide posters, documentation, brochures, evidence of communication disseminated by the District concerning this policy
    • Provide evidence of the programming and information provided to District staff regarding the specific needs of students
    • Provide a dispute resolution procedure to facilitate the timely resolution of disputes regarding the educational placement of homeless children and youth

    History

    • Adopted: October 4, 2001
    • Amended: April 28, 2015; March 21, 2017; May 24, 2022

    Legal References