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The Homeless Education Program can provide:

backpack with school supplies

  • Assistance in school enrollment
  • Advocacy to keep your child in his/her school of origin, if possible.
  • Transportation assistance
  • Resolution of school enrollment disputes
  • Help to ensure students in transition receive appropriate educational services
  • Backpacks & school supplies
  • Assistance with school clothing
  • The opportunity to be fully involved in your child’s academic experience
 
 

Do You Have Uncertain Housing? A Temporary or No Permanent Physical Address?

You are guaranteed enrollment in school by the Federal McKinney-Vento Act and California state law if you live:

 
  • In a shelter (family, domestic violence, or youth shelter or transitional living program)
  • In a motel, hotel, or weekly rate housing
  • In a house or apartment with more than one family because of economic hardship or loss
  • In an abandoned building, in a car, at a campground, or on the street
  • In temporary foster care or with an adult who is not your parent or guardian
  • In substandard housing (without electricity, water, or heat)
  • With friends or family because you are a runaway or an unaccompanied youth
  •  

To enroll in or attend school if you live under any of these conditions, you do NOT need to provide:

 
  • Proof of residency
  • Immunization records or tuberculosis skin-test results
  • School records
  • Legal guardianship papers

You may:

 
  • Participate fully in all school activities and programs for which you are eligible.
  • Continue to attend the school in which you were last enrolled even if you have moved away from that school’s attendance zone or
  • Receive transportation from your current residence back to your school of origin.
  • Qualify automatically for child nutrition programs (free and reduced-price lunches and other district food programs).
  • Contact the district liaison to resolve any disputes that arise during the enrollment

Parents’ responsibilities are to:

 
  • Make sure your child attends school regularly and completes homework and projects on time.
  • Attend parent/teacher conferences, Back-to-School Nights, and other school-related
  • Stay informed of school rules, regulations, and Participate in school advisory/decision-making

For Assistance:

Homeless Liaison

Local School District Liaisons:
Stephanie Cruz
Community Resource Liaison
Lancaster School District
44312 Hardwood Avenue
Lancaster, CA 93534
661-471-3712
 
County Liaison
Jennifer Kottke, Ed.D., Homeless Education Coordinator II
Los Angeles County Office of Education
562-922-6614
 
State Liaison
Leanne Wheeler, State Coordinator
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 6208
Sacramento, California 95814
(866) 856-8214

Homeless services
and assistance


hands holding house