- AVON GROVE CHARTER SCHOOL
- Families in Transition
Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH)
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We are committed to our obligation to ensure that students experiencing homelessness have equal access to the same free, appropriate educational programs provided for all of our students. We will make reasonable efforts to promptly identify local homeless children, encourage their enrollment, and eliminate any barriers to their attendance and education, in compliance with Federal and State law and regulations.
The AGCS Board of Trustees may waive policies, procedures, and administrative regulations that create obstacles to enrollment, attendance, transportation, and success in school for our homeless students, based on the recommendation of our Head of Schools. The Board prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of homelessness, in accordance with applicable law.
Homeless Students
Children and youth are eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act if they have been displaced from their homes and are living in a nighttime residence that is not fixed, regular or adequate, such as:
- Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons
- Having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated as regular sleeping accommodation, such as a:
vehicle
- park
- campground
- public space
- abondoned building
- substandard housing
- transportation stations
- similar settings
- Living in emergency, transitional, or domestic violence shelters
- Living outside of his/her home as an unaccompanied youth
- Living or abandoned in a hospital
- In any of the situations listed above, as the child of a migrant family
Homeless Student Rights
As required by law, AGCS will make school placement determinations on the basis of the best interest of the student, based on student-centered factors. Children and Youth in Transition have the right to:
- Stay in their school of origin; which is the school attended when last permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled.
- Enroll in any school which non-homeless students living in the attendance area are eligible to attend.
- Enroll in a new school without immunization, proof of residential status, school records, proof of guardianship or other documents.
- Receive services (including transportation, preschool, meals, special education) comparable to those provided to other students.
- Have their enrollment disputes expeditiously addressed by the homeless district liaison and have the right to attend their school during the dispute resolution process.
If you believe you are eligible, please contact Ms. Jen Weaver, our Homeless Student Liaison, at jweaver@agcharter.org to find out what services and supports may be available.
Additional Resources
- AGCS McKinney Vento Handbook
- ECYEH Intake Form for Students Experiencing Homelessness
- Community Resources in Chester County
- Guide to the ECYEH Program
- PA Department of Education's Homeless Education webpage
- PA Department of Education ECYEH brochure
- PA Department of Education ECYEH website
- National Center for Homeless Education
ECYEH Definitions and Infomation - click to expand each topic
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Best Interest Determination
When determining the child's best interest, the liaison will consider student-centered factors, including factors related to the impact of mobility on achievement, education, health, safety, and the school placement of siblings.
Parents/Guardians of a homeless student may request enrollment in the school in the attendance area where the student is actually living or other schools.
If a student is unaccompanied by a parent/guardian, the district liaison will assist the unaccompanied student in placement and enrollment decisions. The requests of the parents/guardians or, in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the student, will be given priority.
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Dispute Resolution Process
The following procedures will govern the resolution of disputes regarding enrollment, school selection, homeless status, and complaints of non-compliance with legal requirements pertaining to the education of homeless students:
- The parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth will be referred to the district's liaison for homeless students.
- The liaison will ensure that the child or youth is immediately enrolled, explain the dispute resolution process, and help them use the process.
- The district's liaison for homeless students will issue a written decision within twenty (20) business days from the date that the district was notified of the dispute.
- The parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth may file a complaint or appeal with the Coordinator of Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program.
- The parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth will be referred to the district's liaison for homeless students.
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Education Records
Information about the homeless student's living situation will be treated as a student record subject to the protections of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA.)
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Enrollment and Placement
The selected school will immediately enroll the student and begin instruction, even if the student is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment in accordance with AGCS policies. We may require a parent/guardian to submit contact information. The liaison may contact the previous school for oral confirmation of immunizations, and the school will request records from the previous district, pursuant to Board policy.
If the AGCS is unable to determine the student's grade level due to missing or incomplete records, the district will administer tests or utilize appropriate means to determine the student's placement.
If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment, the student will be immediately enrolled in the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute. The parents/guardians will be provided with a written explanation of the decision, their right to appeal, and the procedures to use for the appeal.
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Homeless Liaison
The AGCS Board of Trustees designates the Director of Teaching and Learning as the liaison for homeless students and families. The liaison is responsible for facilitating implementation of all requirements under the McKinney-Vento Act.
Our Homeless Liaison coordinates with:
- Local service agencies that provide services to homeless children, youth, and families.
- Other school districts on issues of prompt identification, records transfer, and transportation, and other inter-district services or programs.
- State and local housing agencies that are responsible for comprehensive housing affordability strategies.
- Our Director of Special Education or designee, when necessary.
The liaison will provide public notice of the educational rights of homeless students in schools, family shelters, and soup kitchens in a clear and understandable manner and form.
The liaison will also recommend and arrange professional development programs for staff, including office staff, consistent with our policies.
- Local service agencies that provide services to homeless children, youth, and families.
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School of origin
The school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled, including preschool. When the student completes the final grade level served by the school of origin, the school of origin shall include the designated receiving school at the next grade level of all feeder schools.
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Services
Homeless students will be provided services comparable to those offered to other district students including, but not limited to, transportation services; school nutrition programs; vocational programs and technical education; programs for students with limited English proficiency; and educational services for which students meet eligibility criteria, such as programs for disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities.
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Transportation
The student's determined district of residence shall provide transportation for homeless students to their school of origin or the school they choose to attend.
If the school of origin is outside district boundaries or homeless students live in another district but will attend their school of origin in this district, the school districts will agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs of the transportation.
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Unaccompanied youth
A homeless child or youth who is not in physical custody of a parent/guardian.