The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) and Delaware schools adhere to the provisions of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act which aims to minimize the educational disruptions experienced by students who are experiencing homelessness. When students experience homelessness, they can remain enrolled in the schools they have been attending, although they might no longer meet residency requirements. McKinney-Vento also guarantees students experiencing homelessness the right to enroll in a public school even if they lack the typically required documents and immunizations. In addition, students experiencing homelessness are guaranteed the transportation they need to attend school. “Homelessness” is defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:
- Sharing housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship;
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
- Living in emergency or transitional shelters;
- Abandoned in hospitals;
- Having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations; or
- Migratory children living in circumstances described above.
Resources
If you or a family member are experiencing homelessness and need emergency shelter, call 1-833-FIND-BED or email intake@housingalliancede.org. Centralized Intake Services are available from 8 AM – 5 PM, Mondays – Fridays. Staff will assist you with locating available emergency shelter in all 3 counties in Delaware.
If you are fleeing domestic violence, call:
New Castle County Hotline: 302-762-6110
Northern Kent County Hotline: 302-678-3886
Kent and Sussex Hotline: 302-422-8058
All 24-hour hotline phone numbers are confidential, and staffed by trained professionals that can assist you with safety planning and access to available resources.
Additional Resources
- DelawareHousingSearch.org
- National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE – U.S. DOE technical assistance and information center for education for homeless children and youth federal programs
- National Association for the Education Homeless Children and Youth – National membership association dedicated to educational equity and excellence for children and youth experiencing homelessness
- U.S. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education – U.S. DOE program and grant information for education for homeless children and youths
- Delaware Report Card – Data about Delaware education for schools, charters and districts including data regarding homeless youth
- ED Data Express – Data about elementary and secondary schools in the U.S.
District/Charter Homeless Education Liaisons
Local district and charter school homeless education liaisons are responsible for ensuring the identification, school enrollment, attendance, and opportunities for academic success of students in homeless situations. Some of these activities may be performed by the local liaison, while others are accomplished by coordinating the efforts of other staff.
Every school district and charter school must designate an appropriate staff person as a local homeless education liaison. This person may also be a coordinator for other federal programs.
Local homeless education liaisons must ensure that:
- Children and youth in homeless situations are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies.
- Students experiencing homelessness enroll, and have full and equal opportunity to succeed, in school.
- Families, children, and youth experiencing homelessness receive educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even Start, and preschool programs administered by the LEA; and referrals to health, mental health, dental, and other appropriate services.
- Parents or guardians of students experiencing homelessness are informed of educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.
- Public notice of the educational rights of students in homeless situations is disseminated where children and youth receive services.
- Enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with the Enrollment Disputes section of the McKinney-Vento Act.
- Parents, guardians and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness are fully informed of all transportation services provided under the McKinney-Vento Act, including transportation to the school of origin, and are assisted in accessing these services.
Local homeless education liaisons must:
- Assist homeless children and youth who do not have immunizations or immunization or medical records to obtain necessary immunizations or immunization or medical records.
- Help unaccompanied youth choose and enroll in a school, after considering the youths’ wishes, and provide youth with notice of their right to appeal an enrollment decision that is contrary to their wishes.
- Ensure that unaccompanied youth are enrolled in school immediately pending the resolution of any dispute that may arise over school enrollment or placement.
- Collaborate and coordinate with State Coordinators for Homeless Education and community and school personnel responsible for the provision of education and related services to children and youth in homeless situations.
DDOE Contact Information:
Any disputes concerning the educational placement of homeless children and youth is handled at the local level first and then escalated to the DDOE if necessary.
For questions regarding education for students who are experiencing homelessness, send an email to Ruth Uhey or call 302-857-3349.
