Homeless Support

Conneaut SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPPORT FOR

YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

The Conneaut School District has developed procedures and policies to support students who may be experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001.  Students may qualify as homeless as they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The Homeless Children’s Initiative helps homeless children and youth access Pennsylvania’s Public schools by removing barriers to a free and appropriate public education and continue as uninterrupted as possible while he or she is homeless.

WHO IS HOMELESS?

Some reasons that students may qualify as a homeless youth include:

• Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing due to economic hardship.
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of adequate alternative accommodations.
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
• Abandoned in hospitals or awaiting foster care.
• Outside of his or her home as a runaway or because he/she has been forced out of the home.
• In a house for unwed mothers with no other options for living accommodations.
• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for regular sleeping accommodations.
• Children and youths living in cars, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings.

Students who are determined to be homeless, due to a lack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are entitled to:

• Attend the school of origin or school of current residence.
• Remain in chosen school for remainder of year once they are permanently housed.
• Immediate enrollment.
• Transportation.
• Immediate access to educational services for which they are eligible.
• Free meals provided by the district through federal, state, or local food programs.
• Attend the school of choice during enrollment disputes.
• Appeal placement decisions made by the District.