Homeless Children

Education of Homeless Children and Youth

students raising their hands

Homeless children and youth will have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education as provided to other children residing in the District and be provided with comparable services. Homeless children and youth will not be required to attend a separate school or program for homeless children and will not be stigmatized by school personnel.

Eligible children and youth have the right to:

  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their preference and is feasible
  • If the District believes that the selected school is not in the best interest of the student, then the District must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision
  • Receive a free, appropriate public education
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the student’s needs
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested

The McKinney-Vento Act defines children and youth who are homeless (twenty-one years of age and younger) as: children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes children and youth who are:

  • abandoned in hospitals
  • living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
  • living in emergency or transitional shelters
  • living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
  • sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as "doubling-up")
  • using as a primary nighttime residence a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

Migratory children may qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.

If you are personally aware of or are acquainted with any children who may qualify according to the above criteria, the School District of Beloit Turner provides the following assurances:

  • the local district staff person (liaison) for homeless children is Christine Brown, Director of Pupil Services, (608) 364-6372 [email protected]
  • there shall be immediate enrollment and school participation, even if educational and medical records and proof of residency are not available.

homeless



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for further assistance or call the National Center for Homeless Education toll-free helpline at 1-800-308-2145.

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