Attention Parents & Guardians:
Federal guidelines, as set forth in No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, require that school districts identify children who are homeless (temporarily displaced). The federal mandate, and the intention of Hopewell Area School District. is to ensure that homeless children and youth have access to free appropriate public education on an equal basis with other children. Children who are homeless, including those living with others, may qualify for assistance for lunch, with school supplies/materials, with tutoring, and with transportation so that they can remain in their school of origin.
If you believe your child(ren) may qualify for this service, please contact the principal of your child(ren)'s school or the district Homeless Liaison, Donna Steff at 724-375-6691 x5205 or [email protected].
Homeless children may be identified as living in the following situations:
Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or natural disaster;
Public or private places not designated for/or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations such as vehicles, parks, motels, campgrounds, etc.;
With a parent in an emergency, transitional, or domestic violence shelter;
Individuals and/or families living with relatives or friends who have been abandoned or forced out of the home by parents or other caretakers. These individuals may be in temporary shelters awaiting assistance from social service agencies or may live alone on the street or move from place to place among family members, friends or acquaintances. This also includes such youth from ages 18-21 who may still be eligible for educational services in regular or special education.;
Children of migrant families who lack adequate housing;
Children abandoned in hospitals;
School-age mothers or expectant mothers who have no other available living accommodations.
The McKinney-Vento Act states that it is the policy of Congress that state educational agencies shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
If your living situation changes during the school year or over the summer, and you and your child(ren) become homeless, please be sure to contact the school. We will work with you so that your child(ren)'s education is disrupted as little as possible.