Has the district adopted policies and procedures to ensure that transportation is provided at the request of the parent or guardian (or in this case of unaccompanied youth, the liaison) to and from the school of origin?
The Hancock County School System will provide or arrange transportation for students in homeless situations to stay at their schools of origin, even if students move to a different city, county or school district. If the student moves across district lines, then Hancock County Schools will work together with other systems to provide transportation. Hancock County Schools will provide transportation in different ways.
Ø
Re-routing school buses and making sure buses to
shelters, motels and other places where students live.
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Using the transportation systems of social
services.
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Reimbursing parents, guardians or youth for gas.
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Working with services, shelters and public
assistance agencies to provide transportation.
Ø Use Title I and other federal and local money for transportation.
The Hancock County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its program activities or transportation.
Has the district adopted policies and procedures to ensure that homeless children and youth who meet relevant criteria are able to participate in federal, state or local before and after school core programs.
The Hancock County School System will make sure children and youth in homeless situations get all the educational and supplemental services they need. For example, students will have access to:
Ø Pre-school – Eligible children can attend Head Start, Even Start, and other pre-school and pre-kindergarten programs.
Ø School Meal Programs – Students in homeless situations will get the free breakfast and lunch programs. The homeless will be able to apply directly for free meals. Families and youth do not have to provide social security numbers when they apply for free or reduced meals. If students or their families get welfare or food stamps. They are automatically eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school.
Ø
Programs for Language Minority Students –
Hancock County Schools does not have any ESL students at this time. But when the need occurs they will be offered
language services according to the individual needs. Schools cannot ask for families or youth if
they are
Ø Special Education and Other Programs for Students with Disabilities – Hancock County Schools will make sure students with disabilities, including pre-school children, get the special education and services they need. Parents or guardians who think their child might need special education should ask the school to test the child. Hancock County Schools will do the test and provide the services the child needs.
Ø Title I Services – Title I is a federal law that gives schools money to support disadvantaged students. Hancock County Schools will provide children and youth in homeless situations Title I services. Money will be set aside when the need occurs to make sure students experiencing homelessness get services.
Hancock County Schools will provide homeless students assess to:
Ø Programs for gifted and talented students
Ø Vocational and technical education
Ø Before and after school programs
Hancock County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its program and activities.
Has the district reviewed and revised any policies that may act as barriers to the enrollment of homeless children and youth.
Children
and youth experiencing homelessness in Hancock County School System can go to
school right away. No matter what state
or local laws and policies may say. The
The
Has the district adopted policies and procedures to ensure that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same public preschool programs as provided to other children in their school district.
Hancock County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and activities. Posters and school newsletters will be utilized to make parents, teachers and the general public aware of homeless education in Hancock County School System.
The mission of the Hancock County School System is to provide excellence in education for all students.
Hancock County Schools will make sure eligible homeless children can attend Head Start, Even Start and any other preschool or pre-kindergarten program.
Has the district
adopted policies and procedures to ensure that homeless youth and youth separated from the public
schools are identified and accorded equal access to appropriate secondary
education and support services.
Youth on their own have all the rights described in 15, 16, 17, and 18.
Ø Hancock County Schools will help youth decide what school to attend. Considering the youth wishes, help them enroll in that school.
Ø Make sure youth know their rights to transportation and help set up transportation
Ø Make sure youth know they can disagree with school decisions, and how to have those disagreements settled.
Ø Hancock County Schools will make sure youth are immediately enrolled in school during any disagreement.
Youth on their own will not be kept out of school because they do not have a parent
guardian to enroll them.
Does the district
have a Title I Plan coordinated with the
Ø A child or youth who is homeless and is attending any school in the Hancock County School System is automatically eligible for Title I services, regardless of their current academic performance.
Ø Hancock County Schools will reserve (or set aside) funds as necessary to provide services comparable to those provided to children in Title I Part A-funded schools to serve homeless children who so not attend participating schools, including providing educationally related support services to children in shelters and other locations where children may live.
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When the need arises Hancock County Schools
under Title I Part A will submit a plan to the Secretary that is coordinated
with the