Transporation Eligibilty When Rehoused
Transporation Eligibilty When Rehoused
Hey Team,
My Transportation director and I are arguing over the reading of the MV law when it comes to transportation specifically this clause.
“According to the McKinney-Vento Act, a student experiencing homelessness can remain in their “school of origin” for the entire duration of their homelessness, which means they can stay at that school until the end of the academic year in which they obtain permanent housing; this includes the right to transportation to that school for the entire time they are considered homeless.”
I have a family that has always been in our district 6+ years that was double-up and sometimes unsheltered in district for the better part of the past two years. They finally got a new house last month in the neighboring district. From my understanding of the law the family still counts as MV eligible for the rest of the school year. The family is asking for transportation assistance from the neighboring district to our schools.
My transportation director is claiming that we don’t have a legal obligation to transport due to the family being rehoused and no longer “considered homeless”. But I thought they were “considered homeless” until the end of the school year in which they were rehoused.
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I have a similar situation. I am a new liaison for our district this year and am seeking to confirm that my understanding of this situation is correct. This family became homeless over the holiday break and has since relocated outside of our district. The parents have requested that their children remain enrolled at the school of origin.
What I need clarification on is transportation responsibility. Is the school of origin solely responsible for providing transportation, or should transportation be split equally with the district in which the family is now residing?
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@lcastonia Hello & great question! When a student experiencing homelessness resides outside the district of origin, transportation is a shared responsibility between the school of origin (SOO) and the school of residence (SOR).
The two districts should connect immediately to coordinate transportation and determine how costs will be shared. If an agreement cannot be reached, the cost must be split equally.
I see you are located in Michigan. Your Regional Grant Coordinator (RGC) has access to sample CTAs and can be a great resource and support. Do you know who your RGC is? If not, let me know what region you’re in and I can share that contact information.
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@Pot8540 If you need assistance with helping your transportation director understand, I would recommend you reach out to your MV Regional Grant Coordinator to support you. If you do not know who that is let me know and I can put you in touch with them.
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You are correct @Pot8540. A student who has been identified as homeless is considered homeless until the end of the academic year. The law specifically states 42 U.S.C.§11432g(3)(A)(II)
The local educational agency serving each child or youth to be assisted under this part shall, according to the child’s or youth’s best interest
(i) continue the child’s or youth’s education in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness—
(I) in any case in which a family becomes homeless between academic years or during an academic year; and
(II) for the remainder of the academic year, if the child or youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year; or
(ii) enroll the child or youth in any public school that nonhomeless students who live in the attendance area in which the child or youth is actually living are eligible to attend.If it is in the best interest of the child to continue attending the school of origin and transportation is requested then the district must provide it in collaboration with the district of residence.
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