FILE: JBCBB
HOMELESS STUDENTS
The Acadia Parish School Board shall provide a free appropriate public education, including preschool education, to any homeless child or youth within the jurisdiction of the School Board.
For the purpose of this policy, the term homeless includes an individual who lacks a fixed, regular or adequate residence; or has a primary nighttime residence in a shelter, an institution providing temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or is sharing the housing of other persons. The term does not include any individual imprisoned or adjudicated.
Homeless students requesting enrollment will be placed in school immediately, even if required registration documents are unavailable. School documents needed should be requested after the student has been enrolled. There will be no barriers to homeless children and youth entering school.
In addition to the above, the Acadia Parish School Board shall:
Maintain and have immediately available, any records ordinarily kept by the school of each homeless child or youth (immunization records, academic records, birth certificates, guardianship records, evaluations for special services or programs, etc.). Students meeting the definition of homeless will not be denied entry into a school due to the lack of records or documentation normally required for entry into a school.
Continue the education of homeless children or youth in the school of origin for the remainder of the academic year, or for the following academic year if the family becomes homeless between academic years, or enroll the child or youth in any school in which other students living in the attendance area in which the child or youth is actually residing are eligible to attend, whichever is in their best interest.
Ensure school placement of the homeless child or youth according to the School Board's admission policy.
Provide services comparable to services offered to other students in the school of attendance, including transportation services, educational services for which the child or youth meets the eligibility criteria (Title I programs, special education, limited English proficiency), programs in vocational education, programs for the gifted and talented, and school meals programs.
Designate a homeless liaison to coordinate services and ensure that there are no barriers to the enrollment, transportation, attendance, and success in school for homeless children and youth. Additionally, the homeless liaison will promptly solve disputes regarding educational placement.
Ref: 42 USC 11431 et. seq. (Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act)
34 CFR Part 200 (Title I - Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:151.3, 17:221, 17:221.2, 17:222, 17:235.1, 17:238, 17:416
Plyler v. Doe 457 US 202 (1982)
Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education
Acadia Parish School Board