Homeless and Foster Youth Program

Chris Lancaster, County Liaison for Homeless and Foster Youth
clancaster@tuolcoe.k12.ca.us
209-536-2005

State Coordinator: Leanne Wheeler
California Department of Education
1430 N. Street, Suite 6208
Sacramento, CA 95814
1-866-856-8214

The Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools' goal is to be proactive in meeting the needs of its homeless population. Although funds and resources are limited, we are committed to being sensitive to your situation and needs, the immediate enrollment of your child in school, assisting in obtaining medical and other records, ensuring equal access to all education and activity programs, providing parents and students with information necessary for success in school, and providing services according to need and available resources.

McKinney-Vento “Homeless” Act and What Parents Need To know
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the McKinney Vento Act of 2001 ensure educational rights and protections for children experiencing homelessness even if you have uncertain housing, a temporary address or o permanent physical address. Your child is guaranteed enrollment in school by the federal McKinney-Vento Act and California state law and will have access to all academic and other eligible programs.

No Child Left Behind Act
In accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, the Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools ensures that homeless children have access to the same free and appropriate education provided to other children within the County.

The County will ensure that homeless students will have access to education and other services necessary for these students to meet the same challenging performance standards as other students.  Students shall not be segregated into a separate school or program based on their status as homeless, nor shall homeless students be stigmatized in any way.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that placement decisions for homeless students are based on the student’s best interest as defined in law and administrative regulation.

The School District may provide transportation for a homeless student to and from a District School of origin when the student is residing in another district and the parent/guardian requests that transportation be provided.

The superintendent or designee may consult with the superintendent of an outside district to agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and cost of transportation if the student resides outside of the District boundaries.

What is considered homeless?
According to the McKinney Vento Act, a student is considered homeless if he/she is experiencing any of the following living conditions:

• In a shelter (family, domestic violence, or youth shelter or transitional living program)
• In a motel, hotel, or weekly rate housing
• In a house or apartment with more than one family because of economic hardship or loss
• In an abandoned building in a car, at a campground, or on the street
• In temporary foster care or with an adult who is not the parent or guardian
• In substandard housing (without electricity, water, or heat)
• With friends or family because the student is a runaway or an unaccompanied youth

Dispute Resolution
If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment, the child/youth must be immediately enrolled in the school in which he/she is seeking enrollment, pending resolution of the dispute.  Enrollment is defined as “attending classes and participating fully in school activities.”

The school must refer the student, parent, or guardian to the Local Educational Agency’s homeless liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as expeditiously as possible.  The homeless liaison must ensure that the dispute resolution process is also followed for unaccompanied youth.

A written explanation of the school’s decision regarding school selection or enrollment must be provided if a parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth disputes such a school selection or enrollment decision, including the right to appeal.  The written explanation shall be complete, as brief as possible, simply stated, and provided in a language that the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth can understand.

If the dispute remains unresolved at the district level or is appealed, then the district homeless liaison shall forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the homeless liaison at the county office of education.

If the dispute remains unresolved or is appealed, the County Office of Education homeless liaison shall forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the State Homeless Coordinator.