MKV Homeless

The McKinney-Vento Act's Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program, ensures that homeless children and youth are provided a free, appropriate public education, despite lack of a fixed place of residence or a supervising parent or guardian. The state public school admission statute assuring the right of homeless and other children and youth in similar circumstances to enroll in schools is ORS 339.115(7).  [1]
 
The Ashland School District contracts these services with Maslow Project. For more detail please visit www.maslowproject.com  

You may qualify for certain rights and protection under the federal McKinney-Vento Act if you live in any of the following situations:  

  • In a shelter 

  • In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation 

  • In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station 

  • Sharing housing or doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship 

Eligible students have the right to:  

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education.  

  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.  

  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their preference and is feasible.  

  • If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.  

  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.  

  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students' needs. 

If you believe you may be eligible, contact the Maslow Project to find out what services and supports may be available.  

 

Additional Resources 

Educational Right Poster for Youth English  Spanish

Educational Right Poster for Parent English  Spanish


Ashland School Board Policy 

JECBD English

JECBD-AR English

You may be eligible for free or reduced school meals. For more information, you can apply at: https://family.titank12.com/

MKV Dispute Resolution

About the Dispute Resolution Process

If the school, district or McKinney liaison disagrees with the parent/guardian/youth about McKinney-Vento eligibility, school selection or enrollment, a process is in place to appeal the decision. Every state must establish procedures to promptly resolve disputes regarding the educational placement of students in transition.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, a student in temporary housing has the right to attend either their school of origin, if this is in the student's best interest, or the neighborhood's public school where the child or youth has current nighttime accommodations.

"School of origin" is the school that the child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled.

If a student is sent to a school other than the school of origin or the neighborhood public school where they are currently staying (whichever is requested by the parent or unaccompanied youth), the LEA must provide the parent/guardian/youth with a written explanation of its decision and the right to appeal.

Whenever a dispute arises, the student must be enrolled immediately to the requested school and be allowed to participate fully in all school activities while the dispute is being resolved.

The school must refer the student, parent, or guardian to the district liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as quickly as possible.

Local liaisons must ensure that the same access to the dispute resolution process is provided to unaccompanied youth.
 

Ashland SD McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Process

Proceed with these steps:
Refer the student to the McKinney Liaison to assess residency situation and enrollment options as defined in the MVA.

  1. If a dispute still exists, the child or youth shall be immediately admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, until the dispute is resolved.

  2. The parent or guardian of the child or youth shall be provided with a written explanation of the school's decision regarding school selection or enrollment, including the rights of the parent, guardian, or youth to appeal the decision (which would follow the district's complaint procedure, Policy KL and Administrative Regulations KL-AR). They shall also be given a step-by-step description of our complaint procedure. The liaison will keep a copy of the written explanation.

  3. The Ashland McKinney-Vento Liaison shall carry out the dispute resolution process as quickly as possible after receiving notice of the dispute.

  4. In the case of unaccompanied youth, the M-V Liaison shall ensure that the youth is immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of the dispute.

  5. Relevant Board policy and regulations JECBA and JECBA-AR

If you have any questions, contact:

Erika Bare, Director of Student Services | 541.482.2438 | Student.Services@ashland.k12.or.us
                                       
Casandra Fleming, Maslow Liason |541-261-1599 |
Casandra.Fleming@ashland.k12.or.us

[1]Oregon State Department of Education, McKinney-Vento Act: Homeless Education Program, http://www.oregon.gov/ode/schools-and-districts/grants/ESEA/McKinney-Vento/Pages/default.aspx  (December, 2017)