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Foster and Homeless Youth

Foster Youth

PVSD provides support services to foster children who suffer the traumatic effects of displacement from family and schools and multiple placements in foster care. PVSD has the ability and authority to ensure that health and school records are obtained to establish appropriate placements and coordinate instruction, counseling, tutoring, mentoring, vocational training, emancipation services, training for independent living, and other related services.  These services are designed to improve the children's educational performance and personal achievement, directly benefiting them.

Foster children and youth have many rights, including: 

  • Support of an identified Educational Liaison within each school district 
  • Ability to remain in the school of origin despite moving out of the attendance area
  • Credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed by the student
  • A waiver of district graduation requirements if the youth transferred schools after the second year of high school and is unable to graduate with his/her class due to credit deficiency
  • Transportation to the school of origin when determined by the educational rights holder to be in the best interest of the youth, and no other transportation options are available

 

Homeless Education

The PVSD Homeless Education Program (HEP) is to help children and youth experiencing homelessness improve their academic skills and to reduce the educational barriers they face. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” 

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, eligible children and youth have the right to:

  • Go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there.
  • Continue attending their school of origin or be enrolled immediately in the local school where they are living, depending on their best interest. The school of origin is the school the student attended before losing housing or the school the student last attended; the student can attend the school of origin even if he/she now lives outside that district’s boundaries.
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin at no cost to the parent or student.
  • Enroll in the new local school immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment, such as birth certificate, proof of residence, previous school records, or immunization/medical records.
  • Enroll , attend classes, and participate fully in all school activities while the school gathers records.
  • Have access to the same programs and services that are available to all other students, including transportation and supplemental educational services.
  • Receive free school meals.

 

Foster Youth and Homeless Education Liaison

Carol Bjordahl
Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services
(805) 389-2100 X1104 | cbjordahl@pleasantvalleysd.org