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Homeless Students

McKinney-Vento
Guidelines for Students Experiencing Homelessness
 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Contact:
Mrs. Heide Elmore
(440) 354-5400 EXT. 200
 
All school-aged students, including homeless students, have a basic right to equal educational opportunities. In the State of Ohio, each District must enroll students who have been determined to be homeless as quickly as possible.
 
A homeless student is defined as an individual who lacks fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence including:
 
1. a “doubling up” or sharing the housing with another family due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason;
 
2. living in a motel, hotel, trailer park or campground due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
 
3. living in emergency or transitional shelters;
 
4. abandonment in hospitals;
 
5. awaiting foster care placement;
 
6. 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;
 
7. living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings and
 
8. migratory students.
 
In compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, FHEVS makes school placement determinations on the basis of the best interest of the student and family. To the extent feasible, homeless students are kept in the school of origin unless doing so is contrary to the wishes of the student’s parent or guardian.
 
To the extent feasible, the District complies with a request made by a parent(s) regarding school placement regardless of whether the student lives with the homeless parent(s) or is temporarily residing elsewhere.
 
The Board ensures that:
 
1. it reviews and revises Board policies and regulations to eliminate barriers to the enrollment, retention and success in school of homeless students;
 
2. the District does not segregate homeless students into separate schools or separate programs within a school, based on the student’s status as homeless;
 
3. it appoints a District liaison who ensures that homeless students enroll and succeed in school and
 
4. homeless students are provided with education, nutrition and transportation services that are at least comparable to the services provided to nonhomeless students.
 
The liaison ensures compliance with the subgrant and coordinates services for homeless students with local social service agencies and programs, including those funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.
 
A student who ceases to be homeless may continue to receive services until the end of the period of time for which the service was originally intended to be provided, which may be the end of the school year or the end of a program cycle.
 
The District complies with the Ohio Department of Education’s Plan and State and Federal laws for the education of homeless students.
 
For more information please contact your child's school or the district Homeless Liaison Heidi Elmore 440-354-5400 x200
 
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