District McKinney-Vento Liaison Duties

Dorchester School District McKinney Vento Liaison:  Denise Patrick

The district’s liaison will ensure the following:

• Homeless students are identified.
• Homeless students enroll in and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in district schools.
• Homeless students receive appropriate credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily
• completed while attending a prior school, in accordance with state law and regulations as well as district policies.
• Homeless families and students receive educational services for which they are eligible and referrals to healthcare services, dental services, mental health services, housing services, and other appropriate services.
• The parent/guardian of a homeless student is informed of the educational and related opportunities available to the student and is provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of his/her child.
• Public notice of the educational rights of homeless students is distributed where such students receive services (e.g., schools, family shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens) and in a manner and form understandable to the parents/guardians of such students.
• Enrollment disputes are mediated.
• The parent/guardian of a homeless student or any unaccompanied student is informed about and assisted in requesting a state-level review of the district’s final enrollment decision.
• The parent/guardian of a homeless student or any unaccompanied student is fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to the school of origin, and is assisted in accessing transportation to the school selected.
• School staff, service providers, and advocates working with homeless students and their families are informed of the liaison’s duties and receive professional development and other support from the liaison.
• Unaccompanied students are enrolled in school, have opportunities to meet the same challenging academic standards as other students, and are informed of their status as
• independent students under Section 480 of the Higher Education Act and their right to receive verification of this status from the local liaison for the purposes of determining their eligibility for aid for post-secondary program enrollment.
• The parent/guardian has access to the resources of the district for preparation of an appeal of the enrollment decision (e.g., copying, mailing, or obtaining records).

The district’s liaison will coordinate and collaborate with the state coordinator, community, and school staff responsible for the provision of educational and related services to homeless students.