JFABD - EDUCATION OF HOMELESS STUDENTS

JFABD - EDUCATION OF HOMELESS STUDENTS

1. District Obligations to Homeless Students.
   Regional School Unit 21 (RSU-21) recognizes its statutory obligation to provide a free public education to homeless children and youth. Homeless students will not be segregated or stigmatized on the basis of their homelessness. In cooperation with other school units, RSU-21 will provide homeless students with suitable programs that assure equal access to education. Such education shall be provided according to the “best interests of the homeless student,” meaning that, to the extent feasible, the student’s education shall continue in the school the student last attended before becoming homeless, unless doing so is contrary to the wishes of the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s).
    
2. Definitions.
   1. Homeless student.
      A “homeless student” means a student eligible to attend preschool, elementary, or secondary school who:
      1. Lacks a fixed, regular and adequate night-time residence; and
      2. Includes:
         1. Students who are 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;
         2. Students who have a primary night-time residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
         3. Students who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
         4. Migratory students who are living in circumstances described in (1) through (3).
   2. Unaccompanied homeless student.
      An “unaccompanied homeless student” means a homeless student, as defined above, who is not in the physical custody of parent(s) or guardian(s).
       
3. DOE Filing; Homeless Student Liaison Responsibilities.
   RSU-21 shall file with the Maine Department of Education, as part of its annual Title I Plan, a description of services that will be provided to homeless children. The Superintendent will designate a Liaison for Homeless Children and Youth who will coordinate the school unit’s services for homeless students. The Liaison will be responsible for identifying and enrolling homeless students so they receive the educational services for which they are eligible.
    
4. Procedures.
   The Superintendent is authorized to develop and implement any administrative procedures necessary to carry out this policy, consistent with applicable statutes and regulations.

Legal References: 
42 U.S.C. § 11431-11435
20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 261, 5205(7)
Ch. 14 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rules)
Maine State Plan for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

Cross References
JFABD - R - MCKINNEY-VENTO PROCEDURE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS
Adopted: 03/15/2010
Revised: 03/21/2016
Revised: 4/28/2025