JBC(1) – Homeless Students

BOARD POLICY JBC(1) - HOMELESS STUDENTS

EDUCATION OF HOMELESS STUDENTS

 

The Cherokee County Board of Education is dedicated to the guiding principle that all eligible children and youth, including the homeless, who reside within the School District, are entitled to a free, appropriate education.  Due to the special needs of homeless students, the School District establishes this policy to assist in removing barriers to the education process for homeless students so they may fully participate in the educational opportunities offered in Cherokee County.

 I.      Identification

A “homeless student” is determined to be:

• A child or youth who lacks fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence;

·         A child or youth who is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;  

·         A child or youth who has 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;  

·         A child or youth who is living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and  

·         A migratory child (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualifies as homeless. 

·         The term “homeless” does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained by an act of Congress or state law.

II.      School Admission and Enrollment

A homeless student will be assisted in the school admissions/enrollment process, according to the child’s or youth’s best interest in accordance with School Board Policy JBC.

If a dispute arises over school admission or enrollment in a school, the homeless student will be immediately admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute; the parent or guardian of the homeless student will be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision regarding school admission or enrollment, including the rights of the parent, guardian or homeless student to appeal the decision.  In the case of an unaccompanied homeless student, the homeless liaison will ensure that the homeless student is immediately enrolled in the school pending resolution of the dispute.

III.      Comparable Services

Each homeless student will be provided services comparable to services offered to other students in the school, including the following:

• Transportation services will be offered in accordance with federal requirements.
• Educational services for which the homeless student meets eligibility criteria, such as Title I, educational programs for children with disabilities, and educational programs for students with limited English proficiency
• Programs in vocation and technical education
• Programs for gifted and talented students
• School nutrition programs

 

IV.      Appeal Process for Disputes

Any dispute in regard to providing a public education to a child designated as homeless will be presented to the Principal to be resolved.  If the matter is not resolved at that level, the dispute will be brought to the Superintendent or designee who will resolve the matter.  If the matter is not resolved at this level, the dispute will be brought to the School Board.  In the event the dispute cannot be resolved locally, the parent/legal guardian may request a review of the dispute by the Georgia Department of Education.

ADOPTED:  June 21, 2004 

REVISED: July 24, 2025