Programs
Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless youth. All students, regardless of economic situation or living arrangement, have a right to an education.
Who is considered homeless? Under the McKinney-Vento Act, the term "homeless children and youths" means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes children and youths:
Who are doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
Who is living in a shelter, a motel, or a campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
Who are living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, or bus or train stations
If you believe your children may be eligible, contact us to find out what services and supports may be available.
Homelessness Defined
The federal definition of homelessness used by all public schools in the United States includes children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition specifically includes children and youth living in shelters, transitional housing, cars, campgrounds, motels, and sharing the housing of others temporarily due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.
Identification
At Avant Public School, students are primarily identified during enrollment. Families or students who believe that they are homeless should identify themselves as such to the administration office or call APS Homeless Liaison, Chad Joice (918-263-2135).
The Rights of Homeless Students
Students who meet the definition of "Homeless" and are identified or identify themselves as such have the right to:
Receive a free, appropriate public education;
Enroll in school immediately, even if they lack documents normally required for enrollment (i.e. birth certificates, transcripts, vaccinations, etc.);
Enroll in school and attend classes while the school works with the family/student to gather the needed documents;
Enroll in the local school; or continue attending the school they last attended, if that is their preference and is possible.
Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested; and,
Receive education services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the student's needs.
Homeless Liaison
Avant Public School is required to identify a person to act as a Homeless Liaison. This person's duties involve training school staff in identification procedures, serving as an advocate for homeless students, arranging for services, and arbitrating disputes that may arise.
APS homeless liaison is Supterintendent, Chad Joice. You can reach him at cjoice@avant.k12.ok.us or 918-263-2135.
Dispute Process
If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment, the established district dispute process shall be followed (Policy FD-P). Children have the right of enrollment until such time as there is final resolution to the dispute.
Parents/Guardians/Students who feel that their request to enroll has been incorrectly denied or wish to contest their child's placement should be encouraged to contact the District Liaison for consultation. If the dispute is not resolved at this stage, they will be asked to submit their case in writing followed by the remainder of the steps outlined in Policy FD-P.
Should the final result of the district dispute process be unsatisfactory to the parent/guardian/student, they may appeal the district's final decision by contacting the State Homeless Liaison at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.