General Information About Homeless Students:

We realize that learners who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence should not be a sufficient reason to separate learners from the school learning environment. RSU #4 strives to ensure that challenged learners are identified and provided access to the same free and appropriate public education provided to all learners in the school system. In accordance with federal and state law and regulations, RSU #4 shall provide challenged learners access to the instructional programming that supports the achievement of the content standards of Maine's system of Learning Results and to other services for which they are eligible. Learners shall not be segregated into a separate school or program based on their status, nor shall they be stigmatized in any way.

The federal law governing homeless learners is the McKinney-Vento Bill. Under this bill, homeless learners are guaranteed the right to a free, appropriate, public education. When learners become McKinney-Vento eligible, they can remain enrolled in the schools they have been attending, although they might no longer meet residency requirements. McKinney-Vento also guarantees learners the right to enroll in a public school even if they lack the typically required documents and immunizations. In addition, McKinney-Vento eligible learners are guaranteed the transportation they need to attend school.

• Admission of Homeless Students Policy

• McKinney-Vento Handbook

• Transportation MOU

• DOE Website

Helpful Links

• Community Food Resources

• Helping Homeless Students

Contact Our Distirct Mckinney-Vento Liaison

Makayla Stevens

Sabattus Primary Principal

207-375-4525

makayla.stevens@rsu4.org

According to McKinney-Vento, “homeless” can be defined as an individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:

Sharing housing due to loss of housing or economic hardship

Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate housing

Living in emergency or transitional housing Abandoned in hospitals

Awaiting foster care

Having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations

Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations

Migratory students meeting the descriptions above