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States will not be required to submit state plans which conform to ESSA until 2017.  ESSA requires State Educational Agencies to begin implementation by 10/1/2016.

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Eliminate barriers related to Outstanding Fees /Fines and Absences.  LEAs must review and revise police that act as barriers to homeless children and youth including barriers to enrollment, retention due to outstanding fees or fines or absences.

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The LEA must provide youth who are homeless assistance from counselors to advise and improve readiness for college.

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Remove Barriers for Completed Coursework

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Remove Barriers for Completed Coursework

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Award of partial for full credit for ompleted coursework.  Lea must remove barriers from receiving credit from prior schools.

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LEA’s must immediately enroll children and youth who are homeless even if they have missed application or enrollment deadlines during a period of homelessness.

o   With respect to charter and pre-kindergarten programs.  The LEA must provide services to each homeless child and youth that are comparable to services offered to other students in the LEA including preschool programs, other educational programs, programs for students who are ELL, SIFE, IDEA, career and tech.  There are guidelines for programs that have ceilings and lotteries as well.

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Continued enrollment and transportation pending dispute resolution.

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Ensure access to Academic and Extra-curricular Activities. LEAs should review policies to ensure barriers are not in place for access to academic and extracurricular activities including magnet schools, summer school, career and technical education, AP classes, online learning and charter schools.

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o   Inform parents and guardians of students who are experiencing homelessness and children and youth experiencing homelessness of the duties of the Liaison in addition to informing school personnel, service providers and advocates working with these families.

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Collect and provide data to the DOE on students experiencing homelessness.

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Improve identification of children and youth experiencing homelessness.  Give special attention to identify children and youth who are not attending school.

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Children Awaiting Foster Care are no longer be considered under the homeless designation.

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LEAS must coordinate special education services for students protected under McKinney Vento and IDEA.

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If Liaisons are trained they may affirm eligibility for students and their families for homeless assistance programs through Housing and Urban Development programs.

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School of origin now includes preschool and feeder schools.
o   Preschool is defined as any publically funded education program provided to preschool children or Head Start administered by the DOE or LEA.

o   Feeder schools are defined to include preschool whose students are entitled to attend a specific elementary school or group of elementary schools where such a school exists.  (Happiness House, Keuka School) Q}Y\�5�UUa&�

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Currently parents, guardians and youth designate a school district of attendance.   Under the amendments, the designated LEA must determine whether the designation made by the parent, guardian or youth about where the child or youth will attend school is consistent with the best interest of the child/youth by:

§  Presume keeping the child in the last school permanently housed is in the best interest of the child/youth except when contrary to the request of the parent, guardian or youth.

§  Consider student centered factors, including but not limited to impact of mobility on achievement, education, the health and safety of child or youth giving priority to the child/youth’s request.  The DOE encourages consideration of school placement for siblings as well when making the determination.

§  UNDER EXISITING FEDERAL LAW, A STUDENT WHO IS HOMELESS IS ENTITLED TO CONTINUE ENROLLMENT IN THE SCHOOL OR ORIGIN FOR THE DURATION OF HOMELESS AND THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THE STUDENT BECOMES PERMANENTLY HOUSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STUDENT’S BEST INTEREST.
If the LEA determines that it is not in the child/youth’s best interest they will follow the dispute process.

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Provide transportation to School of Origin for the Remainder of the school year.  The LEA MUST provide transportation to the school of origin through the remainder of the school year in which the student becomes permanently housed.