McKinney-Vento Assistance Improvement Act of 2001
Provisions Regarding the Education of
Homeless Children and Youth

Boaz City School System
 

Each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth must have access to a free, appropriate public education.

·       Choice of School

Children and youth who become homeless can choose to continue school in the school they were attending before they became homeless, or they may attend school in the attendance area in which the child is actually living.  The decision is based on the best interest of the child, and must give consideration to a request by a parent.

The choice regarding placement shall be made regardless of whether the child or youth is living with the homeless parents or has been temporarily placed elsewhere by the parents.

·       Comparable Services

Homeless children and youth must be allowed to participate in school meal programs and before-and after-school care programs, and must be given services comparable to the services offered to other students in the school selected.

Services must be made available to homeless students if they are made available to other students,  These include transportation services, educational services like compensatory education programs, programs for the handicapped, programs for students with limited English proficiency, vocational programs, and programs for gifted and talented students.

·        State or Local Policies Should Not Keep Homeless Children from Attending School

Homeless children and youth should not be kept out of school or experience enrollment delays due to transportation problems, transfer of records, immunization or residency requirements, or guardianship issues.  A child should not be kept out of school for lack of a Social Security Card.  State and local educational agencies must change policies, which keep homeless children and youth from attending school.

·        Homeless Children Must Not Be Segregated

Homeless students should not be separated from the mainstream school environment merely because they are homeless.

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