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McKinney-Vento Act (for Homeless Students)

It is the policy of the School to ensure that homeless children and youth are provided with equal access to its educational programs, have an opportunity to meet the same challenging state of Georgia academic standards, are not segregated on the basis of their status as homeless and to establish safeguards that protect homeless students from discrimination on the basis of their homelessness.

Homeless (MKV) Liaison Contact:

Stacie Whalen, School Counselor 

stacie.whalen@cowetacharteracademy.org

Tel: 770-727-5959    Fax: 770-7275949

Definition of Homeless Children and Youth

The term “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence due to economic hardship. It includes children and youths who:

  • Are temporarily sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
  • Are living in motels, hotels or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
  • Are living in emergency shelters
  • Are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement
  • Having a nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
  • Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
  • Runaway children or children who are abandoned

Migratory children and unaccompanied youth (youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian) may be considered homeless if they meet the above definitions. In the case of unaccompanied youth, homeless status is determined in cooperation with the guardians or parents, the local educational agency MKV liaison, and GaDOE guidance

School Selection

  1. Homeless students may:
    1. Enroll in the school serving the attendance zone where the student resides; or
    2. Continue enrollment in the school of origin, when feasible. The school of origin is the school the student attended when permanently housed, or the school in which the student was last enrolled.
  2. Determining which school the child attends will be based upon the student’s best interest. Every effort shall be made, to the extent feasible, to keep the student in his/her school of origin unless doing so is against the wishes of the parent/guardian. In the case of an unaccompanied youth, the Homeless Liaison will assist in the placement and enrollment decisions.
  3. A homeless student who attends his/her school of origin in accordance with Paragraph 1 above may:
    1. Attend that school for the duration of homelessness.
    2. Stay in the school for the remainder of the academic year if the student becomes permanently housed during the academic year; or
    3. Attend their school for the duration of homelessness if the student becomes homeless between academic years.

Enrollment

ELL, Migrant, and Homeless students are identified in a school wide screening under IDEA Child Find Query (CFQ) during enrollment, for the purpose of serving these students effectively and efficiently. CCA will immediately enroll the student, even if the child or youth lacks records normally required for enrollment, including previous academic records, birth certificate, medical records, proof of residency, or other documentation. Records will immediately be requested from the previous school. In addition, the following documents are requested for the parent to complete:

  • Student Residency Form
  • Affidavit for Missing Enrollment Documentation
  • Caregiver Authorization Form

Once identified, the School Enrollment Administrator alerts the Homeless Liaison immediately.

In accordance with current CCA enrollment policies, if the grade level for which a homeless child or youth has applied has more applicants than spaces available and results in a lottery during the designated time on an annual basis, any student or parent who self identifies as homeless will be designated as residing within the home district of the school. If a homeless student applies for admission after the time of the annual lottery, she or he will be placed on the wait list in the order in which the application was received, even if the application is incomplete at the time of submission.

Comparable Services

Each homeless child or youth shall be provided services comparable to services offered to other students at CCA such as:

  • Educational services for which the child or youth meets eligibility criteria such as ESL or special education programs
  • Programs for “at risk” students
  • Programs for gifted and talented students
  • Title I services
  • Before and After School program

Professional Development for All School Staff

All administrators, teachers and employees of the school will be provided professional development on the identification, services and sensitivity necessary when dealing with homeless children and youth. All identified or suspected homeless children and youths will be referred to the school’s homeless liaison.

Professional Development will be provided to all staff as the need arises.

Process for Monitoring

Families experiencing homelessness should contact their homeroom teacher (or the Homeless Liaison directly). Teachers then refer students to the homeless liaison, when necessary, through CCA’s email system. The homeless liaison reviews the homeless students list and addresses any homeless student needs. The homeless liaison works very closely with the teachers to ensure accommodations are made to address the student’s homeless status (extra support, extended deadlines, transportation to testing, etc.). Also, as needed, the homeless liaison will meet with the Business Manager and the Title I director to follow up on any additional services that may be requested.

Transportation

Per the McKinney-Vento Act, Local Education Agencies must provide transportation to homeless students to and from their school of origin. CCA, where (a) feasible, (b) applicable, (c) at the request of the parent/guardian, and/or (d) in the best interest of the homeless children, shall provide transportation to students experiencing homelessness to ensure the students are able to stay at CCA during the duration of their homelessness. CCA may work with the student’s district of residence or other agencies, including the Georgia Department of Education, to provide transportation services.

Enrollment Dispute Resolution Process

In a case where a dispute occurs regarding the enrollment of a homeless child or youth, the following process must be used:

Step 1

If a disagreement arises over school selection or enrollment, the student must be immediately enrolled in the school in which he/she is requesting enrollment, pending resolution of the dispute. Enrollment is defined as “attending classes and participating fully in school activities.” The parent or unaccompanied youth must file a request for dispute resolution with CCA’s homeless liaison by submitting a letter that initiates the dispute resolution process.

CCA will refer the parent or unaccompanied youth to its homeless liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as expeditiously as possible. The homeless liaison must ensure the dispute resolution process is followed for unaccompanied youth.

Within five (5) business days of receipt of the letter, CCA’s School Director, or other designee, shall provide a written explanation of the school’s decision regarding enrollment to the parent or unaccompanied youth. The written explanation shall be complete and simply stated.

Step 2

If the parent or unaccompanied youth disagrees with the decision, (s)he may notify the homeless liaison within ten (10) school days of his/her intent to appeal the decision to the CCA Governing Board. The homeless liaison will forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the Board. The Governing Board will review the information and provide a written decision to the parent or unaccompanied youth within fifteen (15) school days of receipt.

Step 3

If the dispute remains unresolved or is appealed following the final decision by the Board, the homeless liaison will forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the Georgia Department of Education’s Homeless Program Consultant for charter schools for final disposition of this matter.

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