• Homeless Education:     

    Homeless Education Liaison (K -12)  Thom Barnhart                                                         Lind-Kargas-Bone Rich Brain Poor Brain   
    Phone 406 433 5649
    Email: tbarnhart@sidney.k12.mt.us

    Welcome to Homeless Education
    The Homeless Education Program at Sidney Public Schools is located at Central Elementary School, 200 3rd Ave SE
    The purpose of the program is to ensure that all homeless children have equal access to free and appropriate education.

    How do we determine if a child is homeless?
    To make this determination we consider the following factors using the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act definition:

    Under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act (2001, Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act - Sec 725), a child may be classified as homeless using the following definition:

    The term "homeless children and youth" means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes those individuals:

    --Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing or economic hardship (two or more families living in a home)
    --Living in motels/hotels due to lack of alternative accommodations
    --Living in emergency or transitional shelters
    --Living in cars, tents or abandoned buildings
    --Living in campgrounds or cars
    --Living in substandard housing (lacks electricity or running water)
    --Unaccompanied youth (not living in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian and lacking a regular, fixed, nighttime residence)

     Please be aware that any parent, guardian or student in need of assistance may contact the building principal or the district's Homeless Education Liaison.

    Resources:
    National Association for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth (NAEHCY) http://naehcy.org
    National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) 1-800-308-2145 http://naehcy.org
    Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) Homeless Assistance http://opi.mt.gov/Programs/SchoolPrograms/#gpm1_7

    Richland County—

    Department of Child Family Services 210 N. Central Ave.           433 1903
    Food Bank 123 W. Main 433 8142
    Housing Authority 1032 6th ST. SW 433 1978
    Office of Public Assistance 1201 W Holly St. Ste 2 433 2282
    Office of Public Assistance 111 North 31st Street 237-0520  
    What are educational rights of the homeless?
    Children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to: 
    --Go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived here.
    --Continue in the school they attended before they became homeless or the school they last attended, if that is the parent's or youth's choice and is feasible.
    --Receive transportation to the school they attended before becoming homeless (school of origin).
    --Enroll in school without a permanent address.
    --Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other document required for enrollment.
    --Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children or youths served in these programs.
    --Attend school with children not experiencing homelessness; segregation based on a student's status as homeless is prohibited.
     
     

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