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HCPSS / POLICIES

Policy 9300 – Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines to ensure that children and youth who are experiencing homelessness are enrolled in the HCPSS without barriers and that they receive equal access to all educational programs and school-related activities.

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Policy Value Statement

The Board of Education of Howard County (Board) is committed to ensuring that all children and youth have equal access to educational programs and school-related activities. To that end, the Board seeks to eliminate all barriers to the enrollment of children and youth who are experiencing homelessness and eligible to attend public school in Howard County.

The Board further ensures that Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) employees will assist all children and youth who are experiencing homelessness and enrolled in the HCPSS in maintaining a stable educational environment by minimizing the effects of homelessness on their academic achievement and their social-emotional development.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines to ensure that children and youth who are experiencing homelessness are enrolled in the HCPSS without barriers and that they receive equal access to all educational programs and school-related activities.

III. Standards

  1. The rights of all children and youth who are experiencing homelessness and eligible for enrollment in the HCPSS will be protected in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (hereinafter known as the McKinney-Vento Act).

  2. Children and youth who are experiencing homelessness are eligible for services described under Title I, Part A of the Elementary Students Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), whether or not they reside in a Title I school attendance area or meet the academic standards required of other children for eligibility.

  3. Reasonable efforts will be made to identify all school-aged children and youth residing in Howard County who are experiencing homelessness.

  4. Students who were previously enrolled and then newly begin experiencing homelessness will have the option, based upon the best interest of the student, to remain enrolled at their school of origin or they may transfer to the school in the new area. Students experiencing homelessness will be afforded supports for continuing education as outlined in the McKinney-Vento Act.

  5. Students who are experiencing homelessness will be enrolled in school as soon as information is received that the student is experiencing homelessness.

  6. Students who are experiencing homelessness and become permanently housed during the school year will retain McKinney-Vento protections for the remainder of that school year.

  7. Students who are experiencing homelessness will be provided services comparable to the services offered to other students in the school in which the student experiencing homelessness is enrolled.

  8. Students who are experiencing homelessness and meet academic eligibility requirements are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics.

  9. Transportation will be provided for students who are experiencing homelessness in accordance with requirements in the McKinney-Vento Act.

  10. Food and nutrition services will be provided immediately upon the enrollment of a student who is experiencing homelessness and the student will be provided free and reduced price meals (FARMS).

  11. Information will be provided annually for HCPSS school-based employees regarding the McKinney-Vento Act, the unique needs of students who are experiencing homelessness, and the employee’s role in working with these students.

  12. The HCPSS will designate a Homeless Education Liaison for students who are experiencing homelessness.

  13. The dispute resolution process will be used to resolve all disputes regarding enrollment, school selection, and services for students who are experiencing homelessness.

  14. The Howard County Homeless Advisory Committee will assist with coordination of delivery of services to children and youth who are experiencing homelessness and enrolled in the HCPSS.

IV. Responsibilities

  1. The Superintendent will ensure that the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act are followed.

  2. Pupil Personnel Workers, in collaboration with the Homeless Education Liaison, will identify all school-aged children and youth who are experiencing homelessness in Howard County, including those who have self-identified.

  3. Principals will ensure the immediate enrollment of students who have been identified as experiencing homelessness.

  4. Principals, in collaboration with the Homeless Education Liaison, will ensure that students who are experiencing homelessness are provided with comparable services offered to other students.

  5. The Homeless Education Liaison and the Title I Coordinator will ensure that all children and youth who are experiencing homelessness receive services comparable to Title I services and supports and that the local Title I plan describes the services and supports provided.

  6. The Director of Transportation, in collaboration with the Homeless Education Liaison, will coordinate the transportation of students who are experiencing homelessness attending Howard County public schools.

  7. The Executive Director of Student Well-Being will designate the Homeless Education Liaison.

  8. The Director of Food and Nutrition, in collaboration with the Homeless Education Liaison, will immediately coordinate the food and nutrition services as soon as the student experiencing homelessness is enrolled.

  9. The Homeless Education Liaison will ensure that the dispute resolution process is used to resolve all disputes regarding enrollment, school selections, and services for students who are experiencing homelessness.

  10. The Homeless Education Liaison will ensure that information is provided annually to school-based employees regarding the McKinney-Vento Act and the unique needs of students who are experiencing homelessness.

  11. The Homeless Education Liaison will chair the Homeless Advisory Committee.

V. Delegation of Authority

The Superintendent is authorized to develop appropriate procedures for the implementation of this policy within the limits set forth by this policy.

VI. Definitions

Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:

  1. Dispute Resolution – A process for addressing disagreements regarding the enrollment, school selection, or services for children and youth who are experiencing homelessness.

  2. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – A federal law codified at 20 U.S. Code §6301 et seq. whose stated purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.

  3. HCPSS Employee – Any individual who is a permanent or temporary employee of the HCPSS whose compensation is paid in whole or part by the Board, including but not limited to, school-based administrators, teachers, substitute teachers, paraeducators, and other school-based and Central Office support staff.

  4. Homeless Advisory Committee – A group of school-based and community representatives involved in the coordinated delivery of services to children and youth who are experiencing homelessness.

  5. Homeless Education Liaison – Individual identified by the school district to ensure the rights of students who are experiencing homelessness, in accordance with McKinney-Vento Act.

  6. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – A federal law that describes the educational rights of children and youth who are experiencing homelessness.

  7. Migratory Student – A child who moves frequently between schools and school districts often crossing state lines, to follow the work of their parents.

  8. Parent – Any one of the following, recognized as the adult(s) legally responsible for the student:

    1. Biological Parent – A natural parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.

    2. Adoptive Parent – A person who has legally adopted the student and whose parental rights have not been terminated.

    3. Custodian – A person or an agency appointed by the court as the legal custodian of the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.

    4. Guardian – A person who had been placed by the court in charge of the affairs of the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.

    5. Caregiver – An adult resident of Howard County who exercises care, custody or control over the student, but who is neither the biological parent nor legal guardian, as long as the person satisfies the requirements of the Education Article §7-101 (c) (Informal Kinship Care) or has been issued a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Verification of Release form entering into a custodial arrangement with the federal government..

    6. Foster Parent – An adult approved to care for a child who has been placed in their home by a State agency or a licensed child placement agency as provided by the Family Law Article §5-507.

  9. Student Experiencing Homelessness – A student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, whether or not the temporary housing is located in Howard County, including:

    1. Students who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or to economic hardship, or due to a similar reason; living in motels, hotels, transitional housing, or campgrounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; living in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned in hospitals; are runaways, living in shelters or other inadequate accommodations.

    2. Students who have a primary night-time residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

    3. Students who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing (lacking utilities, overcrowded, infested, unsafe, etc.), bus or train stations, or similar settings.

    4. Migratory students as defined under federal law who qualify as a student experiencing homelessness because they are living in the circumstances above.

VII. References

A. Legal

  • McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Reauthorization 2015 (Reauthorized in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act)

  • COMAR 13.A.05.09

  • Family Law Article 5-507

B. Board Policies

C. Relevant Data Sources

D. Other

  • Caregiver’s Authorization Form for Students in Temporary Housing/Unaccompanied Youth

  • Certification Statement for Homeless Children Automatic Eligibility for Free Meal Benefits

  • Dispute Resolution Process for Students in Temporary Housing - Form 1

  • Dispute Resolution Process for Students in Temporary Housing, Request for Due Process – Form 2

  • Know Your Rights brochure

  • Parental Release of Information Form

  • Request for Services from Community Resources Form

  • Student in Temporary Housing (SITH) Form

  • Student in Temporary Housing (SITH) Transportation Form

VIII. History

ADOPTED: June 9, 2011

REVIEWED: January 17, 2024

MODIFIED: October 2, 2018

REVISED: June 12, 2025

EFFECTIVE: July 1, 2025

Policy History Key

  • Adopted-Original date the Board took action to approve a policy
  • Reviewed-The date the status of a policy was assessed by the Superintendent’s Standing Policy Group
  • Modified-The date the Board took action to alter a policy that based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee did not require a comprehensive examination
  • Revised-The date the Board took action on a that policy based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee needed a comprehensive examination
  • Effective-The date a policy is implemented throughout the HCPSS, typically July 1 following Board action.