It is the policy of the Poughkeepsie City School District to locate, identify and evaluate pre-school and school age children between the ages of 3 and 21 who are eligible to attend and/or those children who are currently attending the
public and non-public schools located within the District.
Additional information relating to referral and evaluation of children who have or are suspected of having a disability and the availability of reasonable accommodations and/or special education to eligible children at no-cost may be
obtained by contacting the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services at the Circle of Courage School, 160 Union Street, Poughkeepsie, New York, (845) 437-3476.
EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN
The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to identify homeless children within the District, encourage their enrollment in the District’s schools and eliminate existing barriers to their education which may exist in District
practices. The Board will provide homeless children who attend the District’s schools with access to the same free and appropriate public education, including preschool education, as is provided to other children.
A homeless child is a child who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or who has a primary nighttime location in a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, or a place not designed
for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. This definition also includes a child who: shares the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; lives in motels, hotels,
trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; lives in a car, park, public space or abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station or similar setting; has been abandoned in a
hospital or is awaiting foster care placement; or is a migratory child who qualifies as homeless.
A homeless child has the right to attend school in either the district of origin (i.e., where he/she resided before becoming homeless), the district of current location (where the temporary housing is located), or a district
participating in a regional placement plan. If the student was not a resident of New York State when he/she became homeless, the student is deemed to be a resident of the District without regard to the district of origin or district of
current location.
Admission
Upon designation of the District as the school of attendance, the District shall immediately admit the homeless child to school, even if the child is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic
records, medical records, proof of residency or other documentation and even if there is a dispute with the child’s parents regarding school selection or enrollment.
Homeless children will not be placed in separate schools or programs based on their status as homeless. Homeless children will be provided with access to all District programs, activities and services to the same extent as provided to
other resident students.
Transportation
Unless the homeless child is entitled to transportation provided by the Division for Youth or the Department of Social Services, the designated district shall provide transportation services to the child between the temporary residence
and school in accordance with applicable law. Transportation must not be provided for more than 50 miles each way unless the Commissioner of Education certifies that the transportation is in the child’s best interest. The responsibility
for the cost of transportation lies with the district of origin.
School Records
For homeless students attending school outside of the District, the District shall, within five days of receipt of a request for records, forward a complete copy of the homeless child’s records including proof of age, academic records,
evaluation, immunization records and guardianship papers, if applicable, to the designated District.
The Board of Education has designated the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services as its homeless student liaison. The Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services can be reached at (845) 437-3473, Circle of
Courage School, 160 Union Street, Poughkeepsie New York. The liaison’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, ensuring that:
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parents of homeless children are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to them, including transportation;
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enrollment disputes involving homeless children are promptly mediated and resolved;
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school personnel in coordination with shelters and social service agencies and other appropriate entities identify homeless children, including homeless preschoolers;
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homeless children receive educational services, including Head Start and preschool services to which they are eligible, as well as referrals to health care and other appropriate service.
If, after investigation, it is determined that a child is not homeless and does not reside within the boundaries of the District, the Superintendent shall provide written notice to the parent/guardian within two business days that the
child is not entitled to attend the District’s schools, the basis for the determination, the date as of which the child will be excluded from attendance (a date at least 30 days from the date of the determination) and that the
determination may be appealed to the Commissioner of Education. If an appeal is filed and a stay is requested, the District must continue to enroll the student until the Commissioner rules on the stay request.
In accordance with the Commissioner’s Regulations, the District shall collect and transmit to the Commissioner information necessary to assess the educational needs of homeless children within the State.
Ref: 42 USC §§ 11431, et seq.
School Enrollment Guidelines on the McKinney-Vento Act,
67 Fed. Reg. 10,697-10,701
(March 8, 2002)
Education Law §§207; 305; 3202; 3205; 3209
Executive Law §§532-b; 532-e
Social Services Law §§17; 62; 397
8 NYCRR §§100.2; 175.6
Adopted: June 22, 2005