Students who lack a stable nighttime residence face additional and unique challenges. The Albany School District provides needed services in the areas of: information regarding housing resources, free breakfast and lunch, as well as transportation, when needed. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth (twenty-one years of age and younger) as:
- Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes children and youth who are:
- sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as double-up);
- living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
- living emergency or transitional shelters
- abandoned in hospitals
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated 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.
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.
If you are personally aware of or are acquainted with any children who may qualify according to the above criteria, the Albany School District provides the following assurances to parents of homeless children:
- The local district staff person (liaison) for homeless children is the school Psychologist
- There shall be immediate enrollment and school participation, even if educational and medical records and proof of residency are not available.
- All educational opportunities and related opportunities for homeless students (preschool to age 21), including unaccompanied youth, shall be the same as for the general student population.
- Enrollment and transportation rights, including transportation to the school of origin shall be possible. “School of origin” is defined as the school the child attended when permanently housed or when last enrolled.
- Written explanation of why a homeless child is placed other than in a school of origin or school requested by the parent, with the right to appeal within the local dispute resolution process.
- Meaningful opportunities for parents to participate in the education of their children. These shall include: special notices of events, parent-teacher conferences, newsletters, and access to student records.
The McKinney-Vento Act Requirements
- Designate a homeless liaison in each local educational agency
- Identify and immediately enroll any homeless child or youth (preschool to grade 12), even without academic or medical records.
- Continue children or youths in their "school of origin" for the duration of their homelessness and for the remainder of the academic year if the child or youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year.
- Inform parents/guardians of the educational rights of their children.
- Provide transportation, at the request of the parent, to the school of origin.
- Ensure no barriers exist (for example, residency requirements, lack of transportation or school fees) for full educational participation.
- Develop partnerships with community agencies to identify and assist with basic services for homeless families, children, and youth.
- Ensure homeless students are not segregated or stigmatized.
Please contact Christine Meddaugh, homeless liaison for the Albany School District, for additional information about homeless issues. Christine Meddaugh can be reached at (608) 862-3135 ext 2415 or at christine.meddaugh@albany.k12.wi.us.
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