The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures the educational rights and protections of children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness, also referred to as “transitional” within our district, refers to lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Examples include the following:

• Sharing housing (doubling up) due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

• Living in hotels, motels, temporary mobile homes, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative adequate housing

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters

• Abandoned in hospitals

• Living in public or private places not designated for, or normally used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar places

• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above

• Immigrant, migrant, and unaccompanied minors who lack parental support

• Lacking adequate heat, electricity, and/or water

• Having unsafe heating or electrical services that present a clear and present danger

• Displaying demonstrably unsafe conditions, such as gaping holes in flooring

• Experiencing a kitchen or plumbing that is completely inoperable

• Condemned by housing or other government authorities

• Overcrowding to the point that it is unsafe or not in meeting with fire code

1. The “school of origin” is defined as the school that a child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled, including preschool. The “school of origin” also includes the receiving school at the next grade level for all feeder schools. Typically, we presume that the school of origin is in the student’s best interest, except when doing so is contrary to the request of the parent or guardian, or, (in the case of an unaccompanied youth) the youth. The school of origin usually provides the least interruption to a child’s education.

2. The school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area are eligible to attend.

Placement of the student should always be in the student’s best interest and the least interruptive of continued education, relationships, etc.

• The Transitional Education Liaisons and staff interview families to determine eligibility based upon criteria as set forth by McKinney-Vento.

• Families may be referred through the District Welcome Center, school staff, and shelters.

The McKinney-Vento Act requires schools to enroll homeless students even if they do not immediately have the paperwork normally needed.

School records, immunization, or health records should be obtained as soon as possible.

• Homeless youth that are completely on their own without any parental support

• Homeless youth staying with a non-custodial caregiver

The entire duration of the homelessness or until the end of the school year in which the student becomes permanently housed

Students who become homeless over the summer may also remain in their school of origin for the upcoming school year.

If you believe you or your child may be eligible for McKinney-Vento Homeless Services, please contact our Homeless Coordinator for more information.

Bill Harris

Homeless Coordinator

Phone: 405-375-4080

email: bharris@kingfisher.k12.ok.us

Homeless Complaint/Dispute Resolution Procedures

Federal regulations require that Sand Springs Public Schools adopt procedures for receiving and resolving disputes pertaining to the transition of children and youth experiencing homelessness as identified under the McKinney-Vento Act.

If a dispute arises regarding the education of a homeless child or youth, the child/youth must be immediately enrolled in the school in which he/she is seeking enrollment, pending resolution of the dispute. Enrollment is defined as “attending classes and participating fully in school activities.”

District Level

The following steps will be taken to resolve the dispute/complaint:

• The complainant will request a copy of or access to the district board of education policies 

  addressing the education of homeless children and youths.

• The complainant will make an 

  appointment with the district homeless liaison to discuss a resolution to the dispute.

• If the dispute 

  is not resolved after the initial discussion with the district homeless liaison, the complainant may 

  file a complaint in writing to the district’s homeless liaison for further review;

• In the complaint, include a request that a written proposed resolution of the dispute or a plan of action be provided within five (5) business days of the date the written complaint was received by the district’s homeless liaison. 

  A review of the proposal or plan of action with the homeless liaison will follow. The parties may mutually agree on an extension; however every effort will be made to resolve the complaint in the shortest possible time;

• If the dispute is not resolved at the district homeless liaison level, the complaint may be forwarded to the superintendent of the district for review followed by a meeting with the superintendent to discuss the dispute. The complainant will request from the superintendent a written resolution within five (5) business days of the date of the discussion. The parties may mutually agree on an extension; however, every effort will be made to resolve the complaint as expeditiously as possible;

• If the dispute is not resolved at the district superintendent level, the complainant may take the matter before the school district board of education for resolution.

State Level

If the dispute is not resolved in a satisfactory manner at the school district level, the complaint may be brought to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (ODE). Complaints made under this process must be made in writing and signed by the complainant.

The following steps are to be taken:

• Address the complaint to the State Homeless Coordinator, Oklahoma State Department of Education, 2500 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105.

• Include in the complaint:

(A) A detailed description of the dispute

(B) The name(s) and age(s) of the children involved

(C) The name(s) of involved school district personnel and the district(s) they represent 173

(D) A description of attempts that were made to resolve the issue at the school district level.

The OSDE has established guidelines for dispute resolution. A copy of these guidelines is available upon request.

Questions?

Contact Our Homeless Coordinator & Liaison
Bill Harris
Phone: (405) 375-4080
Email: bharris@kingfisher.k12.ok.us