1. PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE
   Weber School District and the Board recognizes the importance of removing barriers for homeless students. Under the federal Stewart B. McKinney-Vento Act, homeless students are entitled to the following provisions of this policy.
   
   
2. POLICY
   It is the policy of the Weber School District to adhere to and comply with federal and state laws and rules as they pertain to students who are homeless and the provision of a free, appropriate, public education to all students within the school district’s jurisdiction.
   
   
3. DEFINITIONS
   1. “Homeless students” means school-age children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those who are:
      1. sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
      2. living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, cars, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, camping grounds or similar settings due to the lack of alternative accommodations
      3. living in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned in hospitals; or awaiting foster placement 
      4. migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above 
      5. unaccompanied youth, including any youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, such as runaways; throwaways, and school-age unwed mothers, living in homes for unwed mothers, who have no other housing available
         
         
4. PROCEDURE 
   1. Homeless students shall be enrolled immediately.
   2. Homeless students will be granted full participation in regular school activities and programs.
   3. Homeless students cannot be excluded based on their inability to present the following information:
      1. Immunization records
      2. Medical records
      3. Birth certificate
      4. Previous school records or transcripts
      5. Guardianship records
      6. Proof of residency
      7. Other required documentation
   4. The school will continue efforts to assist the student in completing necessary and important records in a timely manner.
   5. Homeless students have the following options for choices of school to attend:
      1. School of origin
         1. The school the child has attended when permanently housed
         2. The school the child last attended
      2. The school closest to the shelter or other temporary housing
      3. The student may remain enrolled in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness or for the remainder of the year if the youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year.
   6. Transportation to the school of origin will be provided at the request of the parent/guardian.
   7. If a grievance occurs, the student will remain in the school without loss of services pending resolution. The parent or guardian will do the following:
      1. Submit the complaint in writing to the principal of the school.
      2. The principal has 10 working days to respond to or resolve the written complaint.
      3. The parent may appeal the school’s response (or failure to respond) in writing to the Weber District Homeless Liaison (Director of Student Services) who can be contacted at (801) 476-7800.
      4. If the complaint is not resolved in a satisfactory manner at the district level, the parent may appeal the decision to the State Homeless Coordinator, (801) 538-7975.

Approved by the Board 03/07/2007