Can she choose to enroll in either district
Parent has a home that caught fire in district 000. The home is being repaired and when it is complete she will move back. While the home is being repaired she is temporarily living in district 001. District 000 told the parent she must register in district 001. Can the parent choose which district to enroll in?
Important
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Hello, Dr. H,
Thanks for the question! There are a few important details to clarify before determining the student’s enrollment options.
A house fire can result in a student qualifying under McKinney-Vento, but eligibility depends on the circumstances of the family’s temporary living arrangement. I would first look at whether the temporary housing meets the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness. Factors to consider include whether the arrangement is fixed, regular, and adequate, such as who is paying for the temporary housing, how long the family is able to remain there, whether the family has a reasonable expectation of returning to their home, and whether the temporary space meets the family’s needs.
If the student is eligible under McKinney-Vento, the family would have the right to remain in the school of origin or attend the local attendance area school where they are temporarily living.
Because this situation also involves residency considerations, I would recommend connecting with your district’s pupil accounting department to review the residency questions under Illinois requirements. They can help determine whether the family’s temporary displacement impacts residency and enrollment options.
If there is still uncertainty after reviewing both the McKinney-Vento and residency considerations, I would encourage reaching out to the Illinois State Coordinator for additional guidance.