Rossville Consolidated School District

WHO IS HOMELESS?    Homeless students are those who lack a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are sharing the housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals. The definition includes migratory students who live in the aforementioned situations.

Beginning Dec. 10, 2016, “those awaiting foster care placement” are not included in the definition.

Requirements for Schools

The McKinney-Vento Act provides certain rights for homeless students. They include waiving certain requirements such as proof of residency when students are enrolling and allowing categorical eligibility for certain services, such as free textbooks. The Act also states:
 

• Homeless students may attend their school of origin or the school where they are temporarily residing;
• Homeless students must be provided a written statement of their rights when they enroll and at least two times per year;
• Homeless students may enroll without school, medical, or similar records;
• Homeless students have a right to transportation to school;
• Students must be provided a statement explaining why they are denied any service or enrollment;
• Students must receive services, such as transportation, while disputes are being settled;
• Students are automatically eligible for Title I services;
• School districts must reserve a portion of Title IA funds to serve homeless students;
• Schools must post information in the community regarding the rights of homeless students, in schools and other places that homeless families may frequent.

Indiana Department of Education Homeless Information

Student Rights Document