HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH

In accordance with federal law, it is the policy of the Meriden Board of Education (the “Board”) to prohibit discrimination against, segregation of, or stigmatization of, homeless children and youth.  The Board authorizes the Administration to establish regulations setting forth procedures necessary to implement the requirements of law with respect to homeless children and youth.  In the event of conflict between federal and/or state law and these administrative regulations, the provisions of law shall control.

Legal References:                  

State Law:

Public Act 19-179, “An Act Concerning Homeless Students’ Access to Education”

10-186 Duties of local and regional boards of education re school attendance. Hearings. Appeals to state board. Establishment of hearing board. Readmission. Transfers

10-253 School privileges for children in certain placements, non-resident children and children in temporary shelters

                                    Federal Law:

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11431 et seq., as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub. L. 114-95.

ADOPTED:  December 18, 2018

AMENDED:  November 19, 2019

Cross reference:

Policy 5050, Non-Resident - Students

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS REGARDING HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH

In accordance with federal law, the Meriden Board of Education (the “Board”) does not permit discrimination against, segregation of, or stigmatization of, homeless children and youth.  The following sets forth the procedures to implement the requirements of law with respect to homeless children and youth.  In the event of conflict between federal and/or state law and these regulations with respect to homeless children and youth, the provisions of law shall control.

1. Definitions:

1. Enroll and Enrollment: includes attending classes and participating fully in school activities.

1. Homeless Children and Youth: means children and youth twenty-one years of age and younger  who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who:

1. Are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.

2. Are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.

3. Are living in emergency or transitional shelters.

4. Are abandoned in hospitals.

5. Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

6. Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

7. Are migratory children living in the above described circumstances.

1. School of Origin: means the school that a homeless child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the homeless child was last enrolled.  School of origin may include preschool administered by the District and, when a homeless child or youth completes the final grade level served by the school of origin, school of origin also includes the designated receiving school at the next grade level for all feeder schools.

1. Unaccompanied Youth: means a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

1. Homeless Liaison:

1. The District’s Homeless Liaison is Supervisor of Language and Community Partnerships.

1. The duties of the Homeless Liaison include:

1. Ensuring that homeless children and youth are identified by school personnel and through outreach and coordination with other entities and agencies.

2. Ensuring that homeless children and youth enroll in, and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in the District’s schools, including ensuring that such homeless children and youth have opportunities to meet the same challenging State academic standards as other children and youths.

3. Ensuring that homeless families, children, and youths receive educational services for which such families, children and youth are eligible, including services through Head Start and Even Start, early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and preschool programs administered by the District.

4. Ensuring that parents and guardians of homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth receive referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health and substance abuse services, housing services, and other appropriate services.

5. Ensuring that parents and guardians of homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth are informed of educational and related opportunities available to homeless children and youth, including extracurricular activities, and that parents and guardians of homeless children and youth are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.

6. Ensuring that public notice of the educational rights of homeless children under the McKinney-Vento Act is disseminated in locations frequented by parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth in a manner and form that is understandable to them.

7. Ensuring that enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act, including carrying out the initial dispute resolution process and ensuring that homeless students are immediately enrolled pending resolution of any enrollment dispute.

8. Ensuring that parent(s)/guardian(s) of homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth are fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to and from the school of origin, and are assisted in accessing those services.

9. Assisting homeless children and youth in enrolling in school and accessing school services and removing barriers to enrollment and retention due to outstanding fees, fines or absences.

10. Informing parent(s)/guardian(s) of homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth, school personnel, and others of the rights of such students.

11. Assisting homeless children and youth who do not have immunizations or immunization/medical records to obtain necessary immunizations or immunization/medical records.

12. Assisting unaccompanied youth in placement/enrollment decisions, including considering the unaccompanied youth’s wishes in those decisions, and providing notice to the unaccompanied youth of his or her right to appeal such decisions.

13. Ensuring that high school age homeless children and youth receive assistance from counselors to advise such youths on preparation and readiness for college, including informing such children and youths of their status as independent students under the Higher Education Act of 1965 and that they may obtain assistance from the district to receive verification of this status for purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

14. Ensuring collaboration with community and school personnel responsible for providing education and related support services to homeless children and youth.

15. Collaborating with and participating in professional development and technical assistance activities offered by the State Office of the Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

16. Ensuring that school personnel providing services to homeless children and youth receive professional development and other technical assistance activities regarding the McKinney-Vento Act.

17. Ensuring that unaccompanied youth are enrolled in school and that procedures are implemented to identify and remove barriers that prevent them from receiving credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed at a prior school, in accordance with State, local, and school policies.

18. With appropriate training, affirming that a child or youth who is eligible for and participating in a program provided by the District, or the immediate family of such a child or youth, is eligible for homeless assistance programs administered under Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Act.

III.       Enrollment of Homeless Children and Youth:

1. Enrollment of homeless children and youth may not be denied or delayed due to the lack of any document normally required for enrollment. However, administrators shall require the parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth to provide contact information prior to enrollment.

1. To facilitate enrollment, administrators:

1. May permit parents/guardians of homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth to sign affidavits of residency to replace typical proof of residency.

2. May permit unaccompanied youth to enroll with affidavits to replace typical proof of guardianship.

3. Shall refer parent/guardian/unaccompanied youth to the Liaison who will assist in obtaining immunizations.

4. Shall contact previous schools for records and assistance with placement decisions.

5. Shall maintain records so that the records are available in a timely fashion when the student enters a new school or school district.

1. School Selection:

1. Standards for School Selection:

1. The District is required to make a determination as to the best interests of a homeless child or youth in making a determination as to the appropriate school of placement.

2. In making such a determination, the District is required to keep a homeless child or youth in his/her school of origin for the duration of homelessness when a homeless child or youth becomes homeless between academic years or during an academic year; or for the remainder of the academic year if the homeless child or youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year, to the extent feasible, unless it is against the wishes of the parent or guardian or unaccompanied youth.  Otherwise, the homeless child or youth shall be enrolled in a public school that non-homeless students who live in the area where the homeless child or youth is actually living are eligible to attend.

3. The District must presume that keeping the homeless child or youth in the school of origin is in the child’s or youth’s best interest unless doing so is contrary to the request of the child’s or youth’s parent or guardian, or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the unaccompanied youth. In considering the child’s or youth’s best interest, the District must consider student-centered factors related to the child’s or youth’s best interest, giving priority to the request of the parent or guardian or unaccompanied youth.

1. Procedures for Review of School Selection Recommendation:

1. The Principal or his/her designee of the school in which enrollment is sought review an enrollment request in accordance with the standards discussed above, and shall make an initial recommendation regarding same. If the Principal or his/her designee's recommendation is to select a placement other than the school desired by the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the homeless child or youth or the unaccompanied youth, then the Principal or his/her designee shall refer the matter to the Superintendent or his/her designee for review of the recommendation and the reasons therefor, and shall notify the District’s Homeless Liaison of same.

2. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall review the matter and consult with the District Homeless Liaison concerning same. If the Superintendent or his/her designee agrees with the recommendation of the Principal or his/her designee, and a dispute remains between the District and the parent(s) or guardian(s) of a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth about a school selection and/or enrollment decision; the Superintendent or his/her designee shall provide the parent(s) or guardian(s) of a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth with a written explanation of the District's decision regarding this matter, and the right to appeal such decision to the Board.

1. Dispute Resolution Process:

1. The District’s Homeless Liaison shall be responsible for promoting objective and expeditious dispute resolutions, and adherence to these administrative regulations.

2. If the parent(s) or guardian(s) of a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth disputes the school placement decision or enrollment, the District must immediately enroll the homeless child or youth in the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute. The homeless child or youth shall also have the right to all appropriate educational services, including transportation to and from the school in which enrollment is sought, while the dispute is pending.

3. If necessary, the District Homeless Liaison shall assist parent(s) or guardian(s) of a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth with completion of the necessary appeal paperwork required to file for an appeal to the Board, and provide the parent(s) or guardian(s) of a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth with a copy of Section 10-186(b).

4. Not later than ten (10) days after receipt of an appeal to the Board by a parent(s) or guardian(s) of a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth, the District shall hold a hearing before the Board concerning such appeal, and such hearing shall be shall be conducted in accordance with Section 10-186(b).

5. If the Board finds in favor of the Superintendent or his/her designee, a parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth or unaccompanied youth may appeal the Board’s decision to the State Board of Education within twenty (20) days of receipt of the Board's written decision, in accordance with Section 10-186(b). If necessary, the District Homeless Liaison shall assist a parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth or unaccompanied youth with filing the necessary appeal paperwork to the State Board of Education.  The homeless child or youth or unaccompanied youth shall remain in his or her school of origin pending resolution of the dispute, including all available appeals. 

1. Services:

1. Homeless children and youth shall be provided with services comparable to those offered other students in the selected school including:

1. Title I services or similar state or local programs, educational programs for students with disabilities, programs for students with limited English proficiency, and preschool programs.

2. Transportation services.

3. Vocational and technical education.

4. Programs for gifted and talented students.

5. School nutrition programs.

6. Before and after school programs.

1. The District shall coordinate with local social service agencies, other service providers, housing assistance providers and other school districts to ensure that homeless children and youth have access and reasonable proximity to available education and support services.

1. Transportation:

1. The District shall provide transportation comparable to that available to other students.

1. Transportation shall be provided, at a parent or guardian or unaccompanied youth’s request, to and from the school of origin for a homeless child or youth. Transportation shall be provided for the entire time the child or youth is homeless and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing.  Transportation to the school of origin shall also be provided during pending disputes.  The Liaison shall request transportation to and from the school of origin for an unaccompanied youth.  Parents and unaccompanied youth shall be informed of this right to transportation before they select a school for attendance.

1. To comply with these requirements:

1. Parents/guardians, schools, and liaisons shall use the district transportation form to process transportation requests.

2. If the homeless child or youth is living and attending school in this District, the District shall arrange transportation.

3. If the homeless child or youth is living in this District but attending school in another, or attending school in this District and living in another, the District will follow the inter-district transportation agreement to determine the responsibility and costs for such transportation. If there is no inter-district transportation agreement, the District shall confer with the other school district’s Homeless Liaison to determine an apportionment of the responsibility and costs.

4. If no mutually agreeable arrangement can be reached, then the District shall:

• arrange transportation immediately;

• bring the matter to the attention of the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth; and

• ensure that such disputes do not interfere with the homeless child or youth attending school.

VII.      Records

An unaccompanied youth, as defined in section I.D., above, is entitled to knowledge of and access to all educational, medical, or similar records in the cumulative record of such unaccompanied youth maintained by this District.

VII.      Contact Information

1. Local Contact: for further information, contact:

Dr. Evelyn Robles-Rivas

Supervisor of Language & Community Partnerships

Meriden Public Schools

22 Liberty Street

Meriden, CT

203-630-4192

1. State Contact: for further information or technical assistance, contact:

Louis Tallarita, State Coordinator

Connecticut Department of Education

450 Columbus Boulevard

Hartford, CT 06103

(860) 807-2058

Louis.Tallarita@ct.gov

Legal References:                  

State Law:

Public Act 19-179, An Act Concerning Homeless Students’ Access to Education

10-186 Duties of local and regional boards of education re school attendance. Hearings. Appeals to state board. Establishment of hearing board. Readmission. Transfers

10-253 School privileges for children in certain placements, non-resident children and children in temporary shelters

                                    Federal Law:

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11431 et seq., as amended by Every Student  Succeeds Act, Pub. L. 114-95.

Adopted:  November 19, 2019

MERIDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Dispute Resolution Process

Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-186

(1)        If any board of education denies such accommodations, the parent or guardian of any child who is denied schooling, or an emancipated minor or a pupil eighteen years of age or older who is denied schooling, or an agent or officer charged with the enforcement of the laws concerning attendance at school, may, in writing request a hearing by the board of education.  The board of education may

• conduct the hearing,
• designate a subcommittee of the board composed of three board members to conduct the hearing, or
• establish a local impartial hearing board of one or more persons not members of the board of education to conduct the hearing.

The board, subcommittee or local impartial hearing board shall give such person a hearing within ten days after receipt of the written request, make a stenographic record or tape recording of the hearing and make a finding within ten days after the hearing.  Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-180a, inclusive, and section 4-181a.  Any child, emancipated minor eighteen years or older who is denied accommodations on the basis of residency may continue in attendance in the school district at the request of the parent or guardian of such child or emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older, pending a hearing pursuant to this subdivision.  The party claiming ineligibility for school accommodations shall have the burden of proving such ineligibility by a preponderance of the evidence, except in cases of denial of schooling based on residency, the party denied schooling shall have the burden of proving residency by a preponderance of the evidence.

(2)        Any such parent, guardian, emancipated minor, pupil eighteen years of age or older, or agent or officer, aggrieved by the finding shall, upon request, be provided with a transcript of the hearing within thirty days after such request and may take an appeal from the finding to the State Board of Education.  A copy of each notice of appeal shall be filed simultaneously with the local or regional board of education and the State Board of Education.  Any child, emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older who is denied accommodations by a board of education as the result of a determination by such board, or a subcommittee of the board or local impartial hearing board, that the child is not a resident of the school district and therefore is not entitled to school accommodations in the district may continue in attendance in the school district at the request of the parent or guardian of such child or such minor or pupil, pending a determination of such appeal.  If an appeal is not taken to the State Board of Education within twenty days of the mailing of the finding to the aggrieved party, the decision of the board, subcommittee or local impartial hearing board shall be final.  The local or regional board of education shall, within ten days after receipt of notice of an appeal, forward the record of the hearing to the State Board of Education.  The State Board of Education shall, on receipt of a written request for a hearing made in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, establish an impartial hearing board of one or more persons to hold a public hearing in the local or regional school district in which the cause of the complaint arises.  Members of the hearing board may be employees of the state Department of Education or may be qualified persons from outside the department.  No member of the board of education under review nor any employee of such board of education shall be a member of the hearing board.  Members of the hearing board, other than those employed by the state of Connecticut, shall be paid reasonable fees and expenses as established by the State Board of Education within the limits of available appropriations.  Such hearing board may examine witnesses and shall maintain a verbatim record of all formal sessions of the hearing.  Either party to the hearing may request that the hearing board join all interested parties to the hearing, or the hearing board may join any interested party on its own motion.  The hearing board shall have no authority to make a determination of the rights and responsibilities of a board of education if such board is not a party to the hearing.  The hearing board may render a determination of actual residence of any child, emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older where residency is at issue.

            (3) The hearing board shall render its decision within forty-five days after receipt of the notice of appeal except that an extension may be granted by the Commissioner of Education upon an application by a party or the hearing board describing circumstances related to the hearing which require an extension.

            (4) If, after the hearing, the hearing board finds that any child is illegally or unreasonably denied schooling, the hearing board shall order the board of education under whose jurisdiction it has been found such child should be attending school to make arrangements to enable the child to attend public school.  Except in the case of a residency determination, the finding of the local or regional board of education, subcommittee of such board or a local impartial hearing board shall be upheld unless it is determined by the hearing board that the finding was arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable.  If such school officers fail to take action upon such order in any case in which such child is currently denied schooling and no suitable provision is made for such child within fifteen days after receipt of the order and in all other cases, within thirty days after receipt of the order, there shall be a forfeiture of the money appropriated by the state for the support of schools amounting to fifty dollars for each child for each day such child is denied schooling.  If the hearing board makes a determination that the child was not a resident of the school district and therefore not entitled to school accommodations from such district, the board of education may assess tuition against the parent or guardian of the child or the emancipated minor or pupil eighteen years of age or older based on the following:  One one-hundred-eightieth of the town's net current local educational expenditure, as defined in section 10-261, per pupil multiplied by the number of days of school attendance of the child in the district while not entitled to school accommodations provided by that district.  The local board of education may seek to recover the amount of the assessment through available civil remedies.

12-18-18

APPENDIX B

Sample Written Notification of Enrollment Decision

[Month] __, 20__

VIA HAND DELIVERY AND U.S. MAIL

[Insert Name of Parent]

[Insert Home Address]

Re:       Notification of Enrollment Decision

Dear [Parent/Guardian]:

            After reviewing your request to enroll the student(s) listed above [name(s)], the enrollment request is denied.  This determination is based upon the following factors:

                        [List factors]

            Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, you have the right to appeal this decision by completing the form attached to this notice or by contacting the school district’s homeless education liaison:

                        [Name of Liaison]

                        [Title]

                        [Telephone No.]

            In addition, the student listed above has the right to immediately enroll in the school of choice pending resolution of the dispute.  You may provide written or verbal evidence to support your position.  You may seek the assistance of advocates or attorneys at your own expense; however, you may qualify for free legal services.  To inquire about free legal assistance, please call Statewide Legal Services at 1-800-453-3320.  You may also contact the state coordinator for homeless education:

                        Louis Tallarita, State Coordinator

                        State Department of Education

                        25 Industrial Park Road

                        Middletown, CT 06457-1543

                        (860) 807-2058

            A copy of the dispute resolution process under section 10-186 is attached to this notice.

Please contact the District Liaison listed above if you have any questions. 

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        [Name]

                                                                        Superintendent of Schools

cc:        [Superintendent of Schools in which enrollment is sought, if appropriate]

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Sample Notification of Decision

to Appeal Educational Placement

This form is to be completed by the parent, guardian, caretaker, or unaccompanied youth when a dispute arises.  If you need assistance in preparing this form, you may meet with the District Liaison, __________________, who can be reached at _________________.

Person completing form:         _______________________________

Relation to Student:                _______________________________

Contact Information:                  _______________________________

                                                _______________________________

                                                ­­­­­­­­­­­_______________________________

I am requesting a Board of Education Hearing under Section 10-186 of the Connecticut General Statutes to appeal the enrollment decision made by [Name of District], [Name of School].  I have been provided with a written explanation of the District’s decision, contact information for the District’s homeless education liaison, and a copy of the Dispute Resolution Process under Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-186.

__________________________________                            ________________

Name                                                                                       Date

Optional.  You may also include a written explanation to support your appeal in the space below or provide your explanation verbally to the District Liaison.

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Sample Notification of Hearing

REGARDING ENROLLMENT DISPUTE

[Month] __, 20__

VIA HAND DELIVERY AND U.S. MAIL

[Insert Name of Parent]

[Insert Home Address]

Re:       Educational Placement

Dear [Name of Parent]:

            You have requested a hearing before the [town] Board of Education regarding the educational placement of your child(ren), [insert name(s) of student(s)] at [name of school].  The [town] Board of Education will conduct a hearing regarding your claim on [date] at [time].  The hearing will be held at the offices of the [town] Board of Education, which are located at [insert address]. 

The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-186 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a copy of which is enclosed.  The hearing will be conducted in executive session, and the Board of Education will make either a tape recording or a stenographic record of the hearing.  You may be represented by counsel or by an advocate, at your expense, if you so desire; however, you may qualify for free legal services.  To inquire about free legal assistance, please call Statewide Legal Services at 1-800-453-3320. 

Please contact the District Liaison, [insert name], if you have any questions. 

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        [Name]

                                                                        Superintendent of Schools

cc:        [Superintendent of Schools in which enrollment is sought, if appropriate]

12-18-18

Student Residency Affidavit

[Name of District]

Name of student: ___________________                              Birthdate: ___________

Name and Location of School Last Attended: __________________________________________

I, _______________________ declare and affirm as follows:

            I am of legal age and believe in the obligations of an oath.

I am the parent/legal guardian/caregiver of ________________ (name of student) who is of school age and is seeking admission to [School District].

            Since ________(date), _______________ (name of student) has not had a permanent home.  He/she is currently staying at _____________________________________________ (may list multiple addresses, if applicable).  He/she has been staying there since ________ (date). 

This location is:

                                    ___      a shelter

                                    ___      a motel/hotel

                                    ___      a campsite

                                    ___      shared housing with other persons

                                    ___      other _______________________________

            If the location is shared housing with other persons, please specify the reason why the student is living in such housing:  _________________________________________________________.  

            Prior to staying at this location, the student was staying at _____________________________

From ________ (date) to _______ (date).

I regularly receive my mail at: ________________________________________.

I am currently staying at the following address(es): __________________________________, ____________________________, ___________________________.  I plan to stay at this/these location(s) until:   _______ (date).  I can be reached at the following telephone number: _______________________.  I can be reached for emergencies at: _______________.

            I authorize school district officials to contact _______________________ (case worker/shelter staff/other) at __________________ to obtain further information in order to verify the information contained in this affidavit and in order to coordinate necessary services for the student.

            I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of Connecticut that the information provided is true and correct and of my own personal knowledge.  I understand that giving false or otherwise untrue information on this form could result in a criminal charge of perjury being brought against me.

                                                                        AFFIANT,

                                                                        Signature of Affiant

                                                                         Print Name of Affiant

Subscribed and sworn to before me

this ___  day of ___, 20__.

__________________________________

NOTARY PUBLIC

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AFFIDAVIT FOR MISSING ENROLLMENT DOCUMENTATION

[District]

I, __________________, being duly sworn upon oath and based on my personal knowledge hereby state and affirm the following information regarding [name of student’s] missing enrollment documentation for the following:

___      Proof of residency                                           ___      Immunization Record

___      Proof of guardianship                                      ___      School Health Record

___      Proof of identity                                              ___      School Records

___      Birth Certificate

            I am of legal age and believe in the obligations of an oath.

            I am unable to present a copy of the document(s) requested above for the following reasons:

            ________________________________________________________

            ________________________________________________________

            ________________________________________________________

            The name and location of the last school the student attended is

___________________________.

            I understand that I must obtain the necessary immunization and health records and provide a copy to the District.  I understand that the Homeless Liaison is available to assist me in obtaining any such immunization or health records.  The Homeless Liaison is _______________________ and can be reached at ___________________.

                                                                        AFFIANT,

Signature of Affiant

                                                                        Print Name of Affiant

Subscribed and sworn to before me

this ___  day of ___, 20__.

__________________________________

NOTARY PUBLIC

12-18-18