Education of Homeless Children
Each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, as provided to other children and youths.  A “homeless child” is defined as provided in the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.   A homeless child may attend the District school that the child attended when permanently housed or in which the child was last enrolled.  A homeless child living in any District school’s attendance area may attend that school. The Superintendent or designee shall appoint a liaison for homeless children.

The Superintendent or designee shall review and revise rules or procedures that may act as barriers to the enrollment of homeless children and youths.  In reviewing and revising such procedures, consideration shall be given to issues concerning transportation, immunization, residency, birth certificates, school records and other documentation, and guardianship. Transportation shall be provided in accordance with the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act and State law. The Superintendent or designee shall give special attention to ensuring the enrollment and attendance of homeless children and youths who are not currently attending school.

If a child is denied enrollment or transportation under this policy, the liaison for homeless children shall (1) provide the child or his/her parent/guardian with a written explanation for the denial and (2) immediately refer the child or his/her parent/guardian to the ombudsperson appointed by the Regional Superintendent of Schools. If a child and his/her parent/guardian were originally considered homeless because they were sharing the housing of another person due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other similar hardship, the liaison for homeless children may, after the passage of eighteen months and annually thereafter, conduct a review to determine whether such hardship still exists.

LEGAL REF.:        McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.
105 ILCS 45/1-1 et seq.

CROSS REF.:         2:260 (Uniform Grievance Procedure), 4:110 (Transportation), 7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities), 7:30 (Student Assignment), 7:50 (School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools), 7:60 (Residence), 7:100 (Health Examinations, Immunizations, and Exclusion of Students).

Reviewed: February 27, 2006
Adopted: May 15, 2006
Revisions Adopted: September 15, 2008