Parents, guardians, caregivers and school administrators will sometimes disagree over whether a student may enroll in or continue to attend a public school based on his or her place of residence. The information in this manual is designed to help parents, guardians and caregivers understand New Jersey's public school residency rules and to inform…

There is no question that students who experience homelessness, like all students, are entitled to be educated. A federal law, known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, requires states to provide homeless children and youth with the same access to free appropriate public education as is available to other students. The Act also requires…

There is no question that students who experience homelessness, like all students, are entitled to be educated. A federal law, known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, requires states to provide homeless children and youth with the same access to free appropriate public education as is available to other students. The Act also requires…

These Questions and Answers are intended to assist states and school districts in meeting their legal obligations to ensure that their enrollment policies and practices at the elementary and secondary school levels do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and do not bar or discourage students' enrollment in elementary…

The fastest growing homeless population is families with school-age children. Districts have trouble identifying children who come under protection of the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, due to families' frequent moves, residency establishment difficulties, missing school records, and lack of immunizations and transportation to school. This…

Residency requirements, transportation needs, lost records, the timeliness for special education placement, and substantiated guardianship pose the main reasons for homeless children's barred access to education. Two national organizations offer suggestions for removing such barriers, and exemplary efforts to educate homeless youth are occurring…

Homeless children are usually thrust outside their neighborhoods and into a different school or school district. School districts attempting to meet the educational, emotional, and socialization needs of these children face numerous challenges. This article discusses homeless New Jersey children, highlighting residency, records, transportation,…

Difficulties faced by homeless children include depression, low self-esteem, lack of sleep and nutrition, and feelings of shame and embarrassment. Challenges faced by schools in providing education to homeless children include: (1) keeping children in one school despite frequent family moves; (2) ensuring that children's health records are…

Describes a program developed at the San Francisco Public Library to allow homeless residents to apply for library cards, and discusses concerns that had to be addressed, including loss or damage of materials, overdue materials, residency requirements, and state and local funding requirements. Cooperation with public and private service providers…

This article describes the educational plight of homeless children and federal efforts to provide assistance to states for the planning and provision of education to homeless children. The McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is discussed, as are recent developments in funding for such programs. (JL)

Focuses on the plight of homeless children, specifically as it relates to access to schooling. Discusses parallels with other groups that have experienced barriers to access; impediments to access for the homeless; and the legislative response to that concern. (MLF)

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the impact of residency and guardianship requirements on the provision of educational opportunities to homeless children and youth. Specifically, the study sought to identify existing legal entanglements, from both state and local policy sources, that resulted in the denial of a free, appropriate public…

This document comprises resource materials on the education of homeless children. It is divided into three parts. Part 1, "Overview," collects publications of the Center for Law and Education, and articles and editorials from "Education Week" and "The New York Times." Part 2, "Relevant Statutes and…

Information is provided about the legal developments affecting the educational rights of homeless students that were made by the McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-645). Presented in three parts, Part 1 gives an overview of some of the problems that keep homeless children from attending school or hindering their…

According to recent studies, families with children are now the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population: 40 percent of the homeless population consists of members of families. Forty-three percent of homeless children do not attend school, which provides children with a much-needed sense of place and continuity that they otherwise lack…