Education For Homeless Children And Foster Youth Policy

The Homeless Children and Foster Youth Coordinator at LAAAE is:
Kriscia Tejada
Assistant Principal
213-487-0600
ktejada@laaae.org

Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise recognizes that homelessness is a serious problem and is concerned, in particular, about the education of homeless children and youth in our community. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 USC §§ 1143111435) ensures homeless students equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other students.

Homeless children and foster youth at Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise are provided access to education and related services and support necessary for these students to meet the same challenging academic standards as other students.

Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise maintains policies that support the implementation and coordination of education and related services to homeless children and foster youth. The principal or designee shall ensure that placement decisions for homeless children and foster youth are based on the student’s best interest as defined in law and administrative regulation. Homeless children and foster youth shall not be segregated based on their status as homeless and shall not be stigmatized in any way.

When there are at least 15 homeless or foster youth at Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise, the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) shall include corresponding goals and specific actions to improve student achievement and related outcomes (Education Code §§ 5205252060).

Enrollment
If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment in a school —

The child or youth shall be immediately admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute;

The parent or guardian of the child or youth shall be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision regarding school selection or enrollment, including the rights of the parent, guardian, or youth to appeal the decision;

The child, youth, parent, or guardian shall be referred to the local educational agency liaison designated under paragraph (1)(J)(ii), who shall carry out the dispute resolution process as described in paragraph (1)(C) as expeditiously as possible after receiving notice of the dispute; and

In the case of an unaccompanied youth, the homeless liaison shall ensure that the youth is immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of the dispute.

Transportation
Transportation is provided, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison), to and from the school of origin, as required by law.

At least annually, the principal or designee shall report to the Board of Directors on outcomes for its homeless and foster youth, which may include, but are not limited to, school attendance, student achievement test results, promotion and retention rates by grade level, graduation rates, suspension/expulsion rates, and other outcomes related to any goals and specific actions identified in the LCAP. Based on the evaluation data, the school shall modify strategies as needed to better support the educational needs of homeless and foster youth.

Revised February 19, 2020