THE ELECTED BOARD OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS REGULATION
INSTRUCTION
ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND SECONDARY
Curriculum Extensions
Instruction of Atypical Students --
Homeless – Placement, Enrollment and Transportation
The district is committed to
providing school access to all students living in the district, or as otherwise
required by law, regardless of the permanence of their residence. This includes
homeless children.
Definitions
When used in these Regulations, the
following terms shall mean the following:
“Homeless student” means an
individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and
includes.
(i) a student who is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels,
trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate
accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned
in hospitals.
(ii) a student who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or
private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping
accommodation for human beings;
(iii) a student who is living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned
buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
(iv) migratory children who qualify as homeless.
“School of origin” means the school
that the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the
student was last enrolled.
Placement and Enrollment
District personnel will confer with
the parent or legal guardian of the student regarding what is in the best
interest of the child. Educational placement will be determined from prior
records. If prior records are not available, testing will be administered
within a reasonable time to ensure appropriate academic placement.
In determining the school assignment
of a homeless student, the district shall, according to the student’s best
interest:
(a) continue the child’s education
in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness when his or her family
becomes homeless between academic years or during an academic year, or
(b) enroll the student in any public
school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the
student is actually living are eligible to attend.
If a homeless student becomes
permanently housed during an academic year, the district shall continue his or
her education at the school of origin for the duration of the academic year,
unless the student or parent requests otherwise.
In determining the child’s best
interest, the district shall (i) to the extent feasible, keep a homeless
student in the school of origin, even if located in another school district,
except when contrary to the child’s or parent’s wishes, and (ii) provide a written
explanation, including a statement regarding the right to appeal under these
Regulations, if the district sends a child to a school other than the school of
origin or the school requested by the parent or guardian, and (iii) in the case
of an unaccompanied student, ensure the Homeless Coordinator assists in
placement or enrollment decisions, considers the view of the child and advises
the child of the right to appeal.
If a dispute arises over school
selection or enrollment in a school:
(a) the student shall be immediately
admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the
dispute;
(b) the parent or guardian of the
student shall be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision
regarding school selection or enrollment, including the rights of the parent,
guardian, or student to appeal the decision;
(c) the student, parent or guardian
shall be referred to the Homeless Coordinator, who shall carry out the dispute
resolution process described in the St. Louis Public Schools Regulation,
R6171.3.3, as expeditiously as possible after receiving notice of the dispute;
and
(d) in the case of an unaccompanied
student, the Homeless Coordinator shall ensure that the youth is immediately
enrolled in school pending resolution of the dispute.
A homeless child shall be enrolled
immediately in the school to which they are assigned, even if they are unable
to produce records normally required for enrollment.
The District may require a parent or
guardian to submit contact information.
Transportation
The District will provide
transportation as required by law and at the request of the parent or guardian
(or in the case of an unaccompanied student, the Homeless Coordinator), to and
from the school of origin. If the school of origin is located outside the
District, or the school of origin is inside the District but the student is
residing in another school district, the District will agree upon the
transportation method and financing with the other district.
References
Legal: McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act of 2001, 42
U.S.C. 11431 et. seq.
Missouri School Improvement Program
Standard 8.1 F.
Regulation approved: December 12,
1995
Revised: September 8, 1998
Revised: December 07, 1999
Revised: September 10, 2002
Revised:
May 15, 2008
Revised: May 11, 2022