McKinney Vento / Students Experiencing Homelessness
The Buena Park School District believes that identification of students experiencing homelessness is critical to improving the educational outcomes of such students and ensuring that they have access to the same free and appropriate public education provided to other students within the District. The District is committed to providing students experiencing homelessness with access to education and other services necessary to meet the same challenging academic standards as other students.
For questions or concerns regarding students experiencing homelessness, contact the Buena Park School District Homeless Youth Liaison:
Madeline Morrison
Director, Student and Community Services
6885 Orangethorpe Avenue
Buena Park, CA 90620
(714) 736-4253
DEFINITIONS
Homeless child or youth, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, means an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition also includes:
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Children and youth who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters
- Children and youth 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
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, or
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above.
Unaccompanied homeless youth means a youth who is not in the physical custody of their parent or legal guardian and meets the definition of homelessness, as described above.
School of origin means any of the following:
- The school that the student attended when permanently housed
- The school in which the student was last enrolled
- A school that the student has had some sort of connection to within the last 15 months
Best interest means, to the extent feasible, continuing a student’s enrollment in the school of origin for the duration of the student’s homelessness, except when doing so is contrary to the wishes of the student’s parent or legal guardian.
AVAILABLE SUPPORTS & RESOURCES
The Office of Student and Community Services may provide any of the following supports and resources to students who are experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in the District:
- Backpacks and school supplies
- Before school and after school care
- Nutrition services
- Referrals to community agencies and resources
- Short-term counseling support
- Transportation
- Tutoring
For students and families experiencing homelessness or need further assistance, please visit the following websites:
Child Care
Housing
Shelter
- Casa Youth Shelter
- Covenant House California (also provides services to youth)
- Waymakers
Services
Other Resources
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
- National Center for Homeless Education
- OCDE Resources
RIGHTS OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
Under the McKinney-Vento Act and state law, eligible students have several education rights, including, but not limited to:
- Immediate enrollment
- School stability
- Transportation (if transportation creates a barrier to attendance)
- Participate in Title I tutoring programs, Head Start, and preschool programs
- Advocacy in disciplinary matters
- Dispute resolution process
- File a complaint
For a more detailed description of these rights, which is attached to the Housing Questionnaire that helps identify students and families experiencing homelessness, click the applicable link below:
Housing Questionnaire English
Housing Questionnaire Spanish
Housing Questionnaire Korean