Students experiencing homelessness are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and include unaccompanied youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Students who are identified as homeless will be provided with a free and appropriate public education in the same manner as all other students in the School District of North Fond du Lac.  Students who meet the federal definition for homelessness receive additional rights and protections as a part of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act including the following:

School Stability   Students experiencing homelessness are able to continue their education at their school of origin for the duration of homelessness when a family becomes homeless between academic years or during an academic year; and for the remainder of the academic year even if the child or youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year. Students experiencing homelessness also have the right to enroll in the public school that students not experiencing homelessness who live in the attendance area are eligible to attend. The district must make school placement determinations based on the “best interest” of the student experiencing homelessness based on student-centered factors. 

Immediate Enrollment   The school that is selected based on the basis of a best interest determination must immediately enroll a student experiencing homelessness, even if the student does not have the documentation typically necessary for enrollment. Additionally, the district will also make sure that the student experiencing homelessness is attending school and not experiencing barriers to accessing academic and/or extracurricular activities.

Transportation   The School District of North Fond du Lac provides students experiencing homelessness with transportation services to and from school. The district also provides transportation to and from the student’s school of origin at the parent or guardian’s request. The district determines the mode of transportation in consultation with the parent or guardian and based on the best interest of the student.