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 -Resolving Grievances
I. School District Level – It is the responsibility of the school district to
inform the complainant of the district’s complaint resolution procedure when a
question concerning the education of a homeless child or youth arises. In
resolving such complaints, the following procedures shall be utilized at the
school district level:
1. The parent or guardian of the
student(s) should be referred to the district’s homeless coordinator. The
complainant shall request a copy or have access to review the board of education
policies addressing the education of homeless children and youth. A meeting
should be established with the homeless coordinator to discuss the complaint.
If the dispute is not resolved after the initial discussion with the homeless
coordinator, the complainant can file a written complaint to the homeless
coordinator for further review. The written complaint should include a request
that a written proposed resolution of the dispute or plan of action be provided
within five (5) days* of the date that the complaint was received by the
homeless coordinator. A review of the proposal or plan of action with the
homeless coordinator should follow.
2. If the dispute is not resolved at
the homeless coordinator level, the complaint may be forwarded to the superintendent
for review followed by a meeting with the superintendent to discuss the
dispute. The complainant should request from the superintendent a written
resolution within five (5) days* of the date of the discussion.
3. If the dispute is not resolved at
the superintendent level, the complainant may present the matter before the
board of education for resolution.
II. State Level – If the dispute is
not resolved in a satisfactory manner at the school district level, the
complaint may be brought to the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education. Complaints made under this process must be made in writing and
signed by the complainant. In resolving such complaints, the following
procedures shall be utilized at the state level:
1. Address the complaint to the
State Homeless Coordinator, Federal Discretionary Grants, P.O. Box 480,
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0480.
2. Include in the written complaint
the following:
a.) a detailed description of the dispute
b.) the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren) involved
c.) the name(s) of involved school district personnel and the district(s) they
represent
d.) a description of attempts that were made to resolve the issue at the
school district level
3. The Director of Federal
Discretionary Grants will inform the involved school district(s) of the
complaint. The director or the director’s designee will collect needed
information including documentation and statements of the parties and may
conduct an independent investigation through an on-site visit if necessary.
4. Within thirty (30) days after
receiving a complaint, the director will resolve the complaint and will inform
the parties, in writing, of the decision.
5. If a complainant disagrees with
the director’s decision, the complainant may, within ten (10) working days,
appeal the decision to the Deputy Commissioner of Education. This appeal must
be in writing indicating why the complainant disagrees with the decision.
6. Within (thirty) 30 days after
receiving the appeal, the Deputy Commissioner of Education will render a final
administrative decision and notify the complainant and all other interested
parties in writing.
7. The child(ren) in question must
be enrolled in school pending resolution of the dispute. If the dispute
revolves around which school is the school of best interest for the child, the
child shall remain in the school that the child currently attends until the
dispute is resolved, unless arrangements already implemented allow the child to
attend the school of origin.
*The parties may mutually agree on
an extension; however, every effort should be made to resolve the complaint in
the shortest possible time.
** Although the standard procedure
allows thirty (30) days for a response, every effort will be made to resolve
the complaint in the shortest time.
References
cf: Board Policy P0400
Legal: McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act of 2001 (42
U. S. C. 11431 et. seq.)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. §1232g.
Regulation approved: December 12,
1995
Revised: December 07, 1999
Revised: September 10, 2002
Revised:
May 15, 2008
Revised:
May 11, 2022