Excerpted from the Local Homeless Education Agency Liaison
Toolkit
TheToolkit may be downloaded using
Adobe Acrobat. http://www.serve.org/nche
Issue |
Responsibility |
Legally Required |
|
Policies and procedures |
Review local policies and procedures
that may impact homeless children and
youth, such as school enrollment and access to school programs (LEA
requirement, may be assumed by liaison). Revise local policies and procedures
determined to be potential barriers for homeless children and
youth (This is an LEA requirement that may be assumed by liaison). Ensure that homeless students are
identified by school personnel. |
Yes Yes Yes |
|
Enrollment and access to educational services |
Ensure that homeless students enroll in,
and receive equal opportunity to
succeed in, the schools of the LEA. Ensure that homeless families, children,
and youth receive educational services for
which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even Start, and
pre-school programs administered by the LEA, and referrals to health,
mental health, dental, and other appropriate services. Ensure that parents or guardians are
informed of educational and related
opportunities that are available to their children and are provided
meaningful opportunities to participate in their children s education. Assist with enrollment dispute cases and
ensure they are mediated in
accordance with the states enrollment dispute resolution process. |
Yes Yes Yes Yes |
|
Outreach |
Ensure that the parent or guardian of a
homeless child or youth, as well as any
unaccompanied youth, is fully informed of all transportation services,
including to the school of origin. Ensure that assistance to access
transportation services is provided. Post educational rights of homeless
children and youth in all schools. Post educational rights of homeless
children and youth in the community where homeless
families and youth may receive services (e.g., shelters,
public health offices, libraries, and soup kitchens). Inform school personnel, service
providers, and advocates who work with homeless
families of the duties of the liaison. Collaborate and coordinate with state
coordinators, community service providers, and
school personnel responsible for the provision of education and
related services to homeless children and youth. |
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes |
|
Issue |
Responsibility |
Legally Required |
|
Unaccompanied youth |
·
Assist unaccompanied youth in placement/enrollment decisions,
including considering the youths wishes in those decisions, and providing
notice to the youth of the right to appeal such decisions under the
enrollment disputes provisions. ·
Ensure that unaccompanied youth are immediately enrolled in school
pending resolution of disputes that might arise over school enrollment and
placement. ·
Assist children and youth who do not have immunizations or medical
records to obtain the necessary immunizations or medical records. |
Yes Yes Yes |
|
Suggested
activities to ensure district wide compliance |
·
Provide professional development for school district staff to build
awareness of the educational needs of homeless students, legal
responsibilities of the school, and local policies and procedures. ·
Provide outreach to community service providers through
presentations, announcements, and dissemination of relevant publications. ·
Provide training for parents. ·
Distribute materials, tutoring supplies, and clothing to schools. ·
Conduct a needs assessment. ·
Conduct an evaluation of the local homeless education program. |
No No No No No No |