Making sure homeless children have access to education is the goal of a plan adopted by the Oregon-Davis School Board this week. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says school corporations are required to submit a homeless education plan to the state by May 21. “The state did provide a sample plan, so we utilized that sample plan, and the board approved that,” he explains. “And then we also have to have that posted on our corporation website.”
Under the plan, children meeting the definition of homeless are allowed to enroll immediately, even if they don’t have all the documents that would normally be required. They’re also guaranteed access to free meals, textbooks, and Title I services.
Furthermore, homeless students have the right to take part in the same classes and activities without being treated differently from other students. The plan also calls for all school staff members to get training on the topic.
Harman says the issue of homeless students is also addressed in the school corporation’s policies.
