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Welcome to the DISD Homeless Information Page.

Here you will find many resources for families who are experiencing homelessness, or dealing with low/no income or other at-risk factors.  Our homeless liaison is Jo Ellen Allen (281-229-7421).

 

Every Child Has a Right to an Education

 

The federal Mckinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act and Texas state law protect the rights of homeless children and youth to receive a free and appropriate public 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 sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; 
  • who 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;
  • who have 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;
  • who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and 
  • who are migratory children who live in one of the above circumstances.

What protections does the McKinney-Vento Act require for homeless children and youths?

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, local educational agencies (LEAs) must review and revise policies and procedures to remove barriers to a high-quality education for homeless children and youths. 


Every LEA must designate a local liaison able to carry out their duties to ensure that homeless students are identified and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school. 


The McKinney-Vento Act also requires that:

  • homeless students who move have the right to remain in their schools of origin if that is in the student’s best interest;
  • if it is in the student’s best interest to change schools, homeless students must be immediately enrolled in a new school, even if they do not have the records normally required for enrollment;
  • transportation must be provided to or from a student’s school of origin, at the request of a parent, guardian, or, in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the local liaison;
  • homeless students must have access to all programs and services for which they are eligible;
  • unaccompanied youths must be accorded specific protections, including immediate enrollment in school without proof of guardianship; and
  • parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youths have the right to dispute an eligibility, school selection, or enrollment decision.

Below are some informational posters.  You can also access these posters as .pdf documents.  Schools, doctors' offices and community organizations are welcome to print and post these in community areas.  Pdf links:

 
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