Sutter County Superintendent of Schools - Education for Homeless Children and Youth

Education for Homeless Children and Youth

ABOUT

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is federal legislation that ensures educational rights and protections of children and youth experiencing homelessness and to provide these students with much needed stability, safety, and support. This means that all local educational agencies (LEA) must ensure that each child and youth experiencing homelessness has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as other children youth, and that barriers to identification, enrollment, and retention in school are identified and removed.

The Sutter County Superintendent of Schools, Student Support and Outreach provides technical and supplemental McKinney-Vento support to the school districts, county community schools, and county-wide charter schools under its jurisdiction. Technical assistance and training are available to district homeless liaisons and other staff who work homeless children and youth and their families.

Additionally, the Program Coordinator serves as the County Liaison to resolve the appeal of the LEA dispute decision regarding eligibility, school selection, and enrollment before the appeal to the California Department of Education (CDE) Homeless Education Program.

DEFINITION

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition also includes:

Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
Children and youth who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters
Children and youth who have 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
Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, or

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

For appeals of dispute decisions from the district – Provide description of process and timelines to file an appeal.
For resolving disputes at the county-operated schools – Provide description of process and timelines for the dispute resolution.
Dispute Resolution Forms
Dispute Resolution Complaint Form
Dispute Resolution LEA Explanation
Dispute Resolution Appeal Form

COUNTY HOMELESS LIAISON CONTACT INFORMATION

Virginia Burns

Director, County Liaison

530-822-2969

Student Support and Outreach provides technical and supplemental McKinney-Vento support to the 12 school districts and 9 charter schools served by Sutter County Superintendent of Schools.

SSO McKiney-Vento supports include:

1.) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Training on McKinney-Vento Homeless Education laws and resources are available to school staff upon request.

2.) TRANSPORTATION

Upon request, there is limited funding available.

3.) DATA COLLECTION

Student Residency forms are highly recommended for school districts to use. School districts/charters may request annual countywide homeless counts to review for observable trends.

4.) PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS

Customized training for educators, public agencies, parents, and community members.

5.) COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Founding member of the Yuba-Sutter Homeless Consortium

California Department of Education - Homeless Matters Work Group