Homeless & Foster Student Information

The McKinney-Vento Act, part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, guarantees homeless children and youth an education equal to what they would receive if not homeless.

Who is Homeless?
According to the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless children and youth include individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes the following situations:

Sharing the housing of others (known as doubling-up) due to loss of housing or economic hardship

Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds

Living in emergency or transitional shelters

Abandoned in hospitals

Living in a nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation

Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings

The McKinney-Vento Act also recognizes unaccompanied youth who are homeless. According to the act, an unaccompanied youth is a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian.

Which School Can a Homeless Child Attend?

There are two choices for a student in a homeless situation - the school of origin and the school of residency. The school of origin is the school the child attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled. The school of residency is the school serving the area where the child or youth is currently physically dwelling. When determining the school of best interest, a homeless child or youth should remain in the school of origin (to the extent feasible) unless doing so is contrary to the wishes of the parent or guardian or to the wishes of the unaccompanied youth.

Enrollment

The McKinney-Vento Act requires the immediate enrollment of homeless children and youth. These children must be allowed to attend school even if they are unable to produce previous academic records, immunization and medical records, proofs of residency, birth certificates or other documentation that is usually required.

Transportation

School districts must provide transportation for homeless children and youth to the school of best interest. Districts must also provide transportation during the resolution of any pending disputes. While disputes over enrollment, school placement or transportation arrangements are being resolved, students must be transported to the school of choice of the parent or the unaccompanied youth.

The Homeless Coordinator

A school district's homeless coordinator plays a vital role in ensuring that children and youth experiencing homelessness enroll and succeed in school. The McKinney-Vento Act requires that every school district appoint a homeless coordinator who serves as the link between homeless families and school staff, district personnel, shelter workers and social-service providers.

Calhoun R-VIII Homeless Liaison
Stacy Rusche
(660) 694-3422
srusche@calhoun.k12.mo.us

Calhoun R-VIII Foster Care Point of Contact
Stacy Rusche
(660) 694-3422
srusche@calhoun.k12.mo.us

More information may be obtained from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/federal-programs/homeless-children-youth