JFABD-R – Homeless Students

Homeless Student Liaison The liaison appointed by the Superintendent shall work to identify homeless children and facilitate each homeless child's access to and success in school. On or before the pupil enrollment count day, the liaison shall report the number of homeless students enrolled in the school district to the Colorado Department of Education. The primary functions of the liaison shall be to mediate disputes concerning school enrollment, assist in making transportation arrangements, assist in requesting the student's records, provide information and give referrals on services and opportunities, and assist any homeless child who is not in the custody of a parent or guardian with enrollment decisions. Enrollment A homeless student is deemed to reside, and may enroll and attend school in:

• The district where the child is presently located, or
• The district in which the student attended school previous to becoming homeless.

Enrollment shall be immediate even if the student lacks records routinely required prior to enrollment. The school shall make arrangements to obtain any necessary records and to have the student receive any necessary immunizations. When feasible, the District shall seek immunization through no- or low-cost health care providers. If an expense is incurred, the District shall seek reimbursement through Medicaid, if possible. If a homeless student becomes permanently housed outside the District during the school year, the student shall no longer be considered homeless and may only continue enrollment in the District for the remainder of the school year in accordance with the provisions of Policy JFAB (Admission of Nonresident Students). Tuition Students defined in state and federal law as homeless children shall be admitted without payment of tuition. Enrollment determination

1. Scenario One ​
   • Student enrolled in this District
   • Becomes homeless​
   • Remains located in the school district

If a District student becomes homeless, but remains located in this school district, the student shall continue to attend school in his or her school. If the student is no longer located in the attendance area of the school he or she previously attended, the liaison shall meet with the student and the student's parent/guardian, if the student is in the custody of the parent/guardian, to determine which District school would best meet the student's educational and other service needs, taking into account the wishes of the student and the parent/guardian, the feasibility of keeping the student in his or her previous school, and the student's transportation needs related to various enrollment options.

2. Scenario Two ​
   • Student enrolled in another school district
   • Becomes homeless
   • Is presently located in this school district
   • Seeks to enroll in the District previously attended

If a student becomes homeless and is presently located in this school district, but seeks to enroll in the District he or she previously attended, the previous school district shall determine enrollment. If this school district has knowledge that a homeless student is presently located in this school district but seeks to enroll in the school district he or she previously attended, this District's homeless student liaison shall assist the student in accessing enrollment in the previous school district, work with the homeless student liaison in the previous school district to mediate disputes concerning enrollment, assist in making transportation arrangements, provide information and give referrals on services and opportunities, and assist any homeless student who is not in the custody of a parent or guardian with enrollment decisions.

3. Scenario Three ​
   • Student who previously attended school in this District
   • Becomes homeless
   • Is presently located outside of this school district
   • Seeks to enroll in this school district

If a student who previously attended school in this District becomes homeless and is presently located outside of this school district, but seeks to enroll in this school district, the liaison appointed by the Superintendent shall assist the parent (or student if applicable) in making a reasonable determination as to whether the student should be enrolled in this District or the district where the student is presently located. In providing this assistance, the liaison appointed by the Superintendent shall, when applicable, consult with:

• The homeless student, or the homeless student's parent/guardian if the student is in the custody of a parent/guardian, and
• The homeless student liaison for the District where the student is presently located

The liaison appointed by the Superintendent and parents (or student if applicable) shall consider all relevant factors in making the reasonable determination including but not limited to:

• The best interests of the homeless student
• To the extent feasible, keeping the homeless student in this District
• The wishes of the student and the student's parent/guardian if the student is in the custody of a parent/guardian
• The student's transportation needs related to various enrollment options (the District where the student is located and the District where the student will attend school must either agree on a method to apportion cost and responsibility for the student's transportation or share the cost and responsibility equally)
• Which school district can best meet the student's educational and other services needs

4. Scenario Four
   • Student who has never attended school in this District
   • Becomes homeless
   • Is presently located in this school district
   • Seeks to enroll in this District

If a student who has never attended school in this District becomes homeless and is presently located in this school district and seeks to enroll in this District, the student shall be enrolled. This District's liaison shall meet with the student and the student's parent/guardian, if the student is in the custody of the parent/guardian, to enroll the student into the District school that would best meet the student's educational and other service needs. Notice of Determination and Right to Appeal If the liaison appointed by the Superintendent determines that the homeless student shall attend a school other than the student's previous school or a school other than the one requested by the student's parent or guardian, whether or not the placement is disputed, the liaison appointed by the Superintendent shall hand deliver to the student's custodial parent/guardian (or the student not in custody of a parent/guardian) the District's determination in writing. This determination shall include an explanation of the decision and the right to appeal. Enrollment Disputes If an enrollment dispute arises between the student's custodial parent/guardian (or the student not in custody of a parent/guardian) and the District, the student shall be immediately enrolled in the school selected by the parent/guardian or student until the dispute is resolved. The parent/guardian (or student, if applicable) may appeal the enrollment determination made by this District in writing to the District's homeless student liaison within five (5) school-days after receiving the written determination and notice of right-to-appeal. The liaison shall attempt to resolve the dispute and issue a written decision on the dispute within ten (10) school-days of the receipt of the appeal. The liaison shall hand deliver to the parent/guardian (or student, if applicable) the written decision and a notice of the right-to-appeal to the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Within five (5) days of delivery of the liaison's decision and right-to-appeal notice, the parent/guardian (or student, if applicable) may appeal the decision to the State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. The decision of the State Coordinator shall be final. Transportation Subsequent to a determination that the student shall attend a school in this District, a request for transportation may be made by the student, or by the student's custodial parent/guardian. If the student is located in the District, the District shall provide or arrange for the student's transportation to and from school in accordance with District transportation policies. All transportation services shall be comparable to those provided for other students in the District. If the student is located outside of the District but a determination has been made that the student shall attend school in the District, both this district and the district where the student is located must either agree on a method to apportion cost and responsibility for the student's transportation or share the cost responsibility equally. Adoption Date: November 18, 2013