EDUCATION OF HOMELESS, MIGRANT STUDENTS AND ENGLISH LEARNERS
September 22, 2022
The Avilla R-XIII School District Board of Education recognizes that homelessness alone should not be sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment. Therefore, the district, in accordance with state and federal law and the Missouri state plan for education of the homes, will give special attention to ensure that homeless students in the school district have access to a free and appropriate public education.
Homeless students are individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and include the following:
-
Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement.
-
Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
-
Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings.
-
Migratory children who meet one (1) of the above-described circumstances.
The Board of Education recognizes the need to provide equal educational opportunities for all students in the district. Therefore, if the inability to speak and understand the English language excludes a student from effective participation in the educational programs offered by the district, the district shall take appropriate action to rectify the English language deficiency in order to provide the student equal access to its programs. Identifying students who are English language learners (ELL) and ensuring them equal access to appropriate programs are the first steps to improving their academic achievement levels.
The board designates the following individual to act as the district’s homeless coordinator, Chuck Wolfe and ELL coordinator: Russ Cruzan, 400 Sarcoxie Street, Avilla, MO 64833; Phone 417-246-5330
