Homeless Information
Homeless Youth Rights
The District shall provide homeless youth with access to fully participate in all school activities and programs for which the child is eligible and have the right to enroll in local comprehensive schools. Homeless youth have the right to immediate enrollment in their school of origin or school where they are currently residing without: proof of residency, immunization records, school records, or legal guardianship papers. They automatically qualify for nutrition programs.
You may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act if you live in any of the following situations:
You may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act if you live in any of the following situations:
• Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
• In a shelter
• Rent a room in another person’s house
• In a converted garage
• In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
• In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
• In a shelter
• Rent a room in another person’s house
• In a converted garage
• In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
• In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
Eligible students have the right to:
• Receive a free, appropriate public education
• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
• 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 it is feasible. If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then the district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested
• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students’ needs
• Graduate with reduced state graduation requirements if they transfer to another school after their second year of high school, are credit deficient and will not be able to graduate on time with local district requirements
• Receive partial credits for courses that have been satisfactorily completed
• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
• 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 it is feasible. If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then the district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested
• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students’ needs
• Graduate with reduced state graduation requirements if they transfer to another school after their second year of high school, are credit deficient and will not be able to graduate on time with local district requirements
• Receive partial credits for courses that have been satisfactorily completed
You may contact the district’s Homeless Liaison, Amy Larson, at 562-698-8121 Ext. 1180 with any questions or to resolve any disputes that arise during enrollment.