Homeless Education and Foster Care Resources and Information

HOMELESS EDUCATION PROGRAM (Title X McKinney-Vento)

McKinney Vento Defined

The McKinney-Vento Act for the Education of Houseless Children and Youth Program, ensures that houseless children and youth are provided a free, appropriate public education, despite the lack of a fixed, regular, nighttime, adequate place of residence. A youth is considered unaccompanied if they are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. The state public school admission statute assuring the right of houseless and other children and youth in similar circumstances to enroll in schools is Oregon Revised Statute ORS 339.115(7). 

If you are living in any of the following situations:

  • Shared housing with other friends or families due to economic hardship.

  • Runaway/homeless youth, and students who are not living with a parent or legally court-appointed guardian.

  • Shelter or transitional housing.

  • Motels or hotels.

  • Campgrounds or inadequate trailer homes.

  • Substandard housing (homes without heat, water, or working appliances).

  • Cars, parks, campgrounds, public spaces.

Your school-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. 

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education. 

  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment. 

  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents. 

  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible. 

  • If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision. 

  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this. 

  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

Resources

The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)
Oregon Department of Education - McKinney-Vento
Florence Food Share

Siuslaw Outreach Services

McKinney-Vento Caregiver Authorization Form

The McKinney-Vento Act, Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program (P.L. 101-110) requires that eligible children and youth have access to public school enrollment and other educational services, even though they may not be under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian. In such cases, the Caregiver Authorization Form provides information for a district on the adult in the supervision of a minor student.

Click the link below for this form:

Oregon Department of Education Caregiver Authorization Form

Siuslaw School District McKinney-Vento Liaison

Ella Glowacki

(541) 997-2514 x5457

eglowacki@siuslaw.k12.or.us


FOSTER CARE 

Siuslaw School District Foster Care Point of Contact (POC): Lisa Utz, Special Programs Director, lutz@sisulaw.k12.or.us 541-997-5456

Siuslaw students who are cared for in foster homes have rights to the following: free transportation to and from School of Origin, immediate enrollment, free/reduced lunch eligibility, and additional support as needed for engaging in school-related activities. Additional supports can be accessed via the Foster Care POC or any school personnel to fit student needs.

Forms to be filed by DHS with Siuslaw SD for students in Foster Care

To best serve our students in Foster Care, DHS case management should file the following forms with our office secretaries, who will then alert the Siuslaw SD Foster Care POC:

Foster Care Transportation form: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/fosteringconnections/Documents/fctransportationrequestform.pdf

Foster Care School Notification form: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/fosteringconnections/Documents/dhsfcschoolnotificationform.pdf


Resources from The Oregon Department of Education:

“Foster Care” means substitute care for children placed by the Department of Human Services or a tribal child welfare agency away from their parents and for whom the department or agency has placement and care responsibility, including placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions and pre-adoptive homes.

ODE Website link for Foster Care: 

https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/fosteringconnections/Pages/default.aspx