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The Board shall make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children within the district, encourage their enrollment and eliminate existing barriers to their education, which may exist in district policies or practices, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. Further, it is the policy of the Board of Education that no child or youth shall be discriminated against or stigmatized in this school district because of homelessness. Homeless students, as defined by federal and state statutes, residing within the district or residing in temporary shelters in the district are entitled to free school privileges. Homeless students within the district not placed in a shelter remain the district's responsibility to provide continued educational services. Such services for the child may be: 1. continued in the school ("school of origin") that the student attended when permanently housed or the school of last enrollment; or 2. provided in the school that is attended by other students living in the same attendance area where the homeless child lives. To the extent feasible, a homeless child will be kept in the school of origin, unless it is against the wishes of the parent/guardian. Homeless children shall be provided educational services that are comparable to those provided to other students enrolled in the district, including but not limited to, Title I, transportation services, compensatory educational programs, gifted and talented, special education, ESL, health services and food and nutrition programs. The Superintendent of Schools shall refer identified homeless children under the age of eighteen who may reside within the school district, unless such children are emancipated minors, to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. The district administration shall attempt to remove existing barriers to school attendance by homeless emancipated minors and youth eighteen years of age: 1. The selected school for the homeless child shall enroll the child, even in the absence of records normally required for enrollment. The last school enrolled shall be contacted to obtain records. 2. Other enrollment requirements that may constitute a barrier to the education of the homeless child or youth may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent. If the district is unable to determine the student's grade level due to missing or incomplete records, the district shall administer tests or utilize other reasonable means to determine the appropriate grade level for the child. 3. Fees and charges, which may present a barrier to the enrollment or transfer of a homeless child or youth, may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent. 4. Transportation services must be comparable to those provided other students in the selected school. Transportation shall be provided to the student's school of origin in compliance with federal and state regulations. 5. Official school records policies and regulations shall be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent, in compliance with federal statutes. 6. The district shall make a reasonable effort to locate immunization records from information available. The District's liaison shall assist the parent/guardian in obtaining the necessary immunizations and records. The District shall arrange for students to receive immunizations through health agencies and at District expense if no other recourse is available. Immunizations may, however, be waived for homeless youth only in accordance with provisions of Board of Education policy on immunizations. (Reference Policies 5111 & 5142) 7. Other barriers to school attendance by homeless children or youth may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools. The District's educational liaison for homeless children is Ms. Donna Maynard, Director of Special Services. Students residing in a temporary shelter are entitled to free school privileges from the district in which the shelter is located or from the school district where they would otherwise reside if not for the placement in the temporary shelter. The district in which the temporary shelter is located shall notify the district where the student would otherwise be attending. The district so notified may choose to either: 1. continue to provide educational services, including transportation between the temporary shelter and the school in the home district; or 2. pay tuition to the district in which the temporary shelter is located. The Superintendent shall develop regulations, to ensure compliance with applicable statutes in the implementation of this policy. (cf. 5111 Admission/Placement) (cf. 5142 Health Manual) Policy 5118.1 |