Children who are residents of the school district community will attend the school district without paying tuition.

The residence of a student means the place, abode, or dwelling of the student.  Generally, the legal dwelling of minors is the same as their parents.  However, a student may establish a dwelling with someone other than the parents and attend public school in the school district without paying tuition if the primary purpose for residing in the school district is not for the purpose of obtaining a free public education.  Further, students who have reached the age of majority and who are still eligible to attend an Iowa secondary school may declare their residence independent of the residence of the parents.

Each case involving the bona fide residence of a student will be decided upon its individual merits by the superintendent.

Legan Reference:    Lakota Cons. Ind. School v. Buffalo Center-Rake Comm. School, 334 N.W.2d 704 (Iowa 1983).

                                Mt. Hope School Dist. v. Hendrickson, 197 N.W. 47 (Iowa 1924).

                                 Oshel v. Creston Comm. School Dist., DPI Admin. Doc. 570 (1981).

                                 33 D.P.I. Dec. Rule 80 (1984).

                                 Iowa Code §§ 257.6; 282.2, .6, .7; 285.4 (1995).

                                 1956 Op. Att'y Gen. 185.

                                 1946 Op. Att'y Gen. 197.

                                 1938 Op. Att'y Gen. 69.

                                 1930 Op. Att'y Gen. 147.

 

   Cross Reference:    501  Student Attendance

 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed 8/18/2021               Revised             

Students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school but who are not legal residents of the school district may be admitted into the school district at the discretion of the superintendent upon application and payment of tuition.  The tuition rate shall be the current per-pupil cost of the school district as computed by the board secretary and as authorized by the Iowa Department of Education.

Resident students whose families move from the school district after the start of a semester and who wish to complete the semester in the school district may be permitted to attend without the payment of tuition at the discretion of the superintendent and approval of the board.  Students who plan to open enroll to the nonresident district may complete the school year without approval of the superintendent or board.  These students, other than students in grades eleven and twelve, must have the recommendation of the principal. 

Students in grades eleven or twelve who are no longer residents of the school district, but were residents in the preceding school year, may continue to attend school until they graduate without the payment of tuition.  These students must have an adult, who resides in the school district, identified for purposes of administration.

Nonresident students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and who have evidence they will become legal residents of the school district prior to the third Friday in September may be allowed to attend without the payment of tuition.

Legal Reference:    Lakota Cons. Ind. School v. Buffalo Center-Rake Comm. School, 334 N.W.2d 704 (Iowa 1983).

                                 Mt. Hope School Dist. v. Hendrickson, 197 N.W. 47 (Iowa 1924).

                                 Oshel v. Creston Comm. School Dist., DPI Admin. Doc. 570 (1981).

                                Iowa Code §§ 257.6; 282.1, .2, .6, .7, .24 (1995).

 

 Cross Reference:    501  Student Attendance 

 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed  8/18/2021              Revised            

Parents within the school district who have children over age six and under age sixteen by September 15, in proper physical and mental condition to attend school, shall have the children attend the school district at the attendance center designated by the board.  Students shall attend school the number of days school is in session in accordance with the school calendar.  Students of compulsory attendance age will attend school a minimum of ___________ days or hours.  Students not attending the minimum days or hours must be exempted by this policy as listed below or, referred to the county attorney. Exceptions to this policy include children who:

• have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or have obtained a high school equivalency diploma;

• are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;

• are attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;

• are unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;

• has in individualized education program that affects the child’s attendance;

• has a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, that affects the child’s attendance;

• are attending an approved or probationally approved private college preparatory school;

• are attending an accredited nonpublic school; or,

• are receiving independent private instruction or competent private instruction.

It is the responsibility of the parent of a child to provide evidence of the child's mental and physical inability to attend school or of the child's qualifications for one of the exceptions listed above.

 

 Legal Reference:    Iowa Code §§ 259A; 279.10-.11; 299.1-.1A; 299A (1995).

                                1978 Op. Att'y. Gen. 379.

 

 Cross Reference:    501    Student Attendance 

                                601.01  School Calendar

                                604.01  Competent Private Instruction 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed  8/18/2021              Revised    7-17-24        

Children in the school district community will be allowed to enroll in the school district's regular education program beginning at age five.  The child must be age five on or prior to September 15 to participate in the school district's kindergarten program.  The child must be age six on or prior to September 15 to begin the first grade of the education program.

The board shall require evidence of age and residency in the form of a birth certificate or other evidence before the student may enroll in the school district's education program.  It shall be within the discretion of the superintendent to determine what is satisfactory evidence for proof of age.

Prior to enrollment, the child must provide the administration with their health and immunization certificate.  Failure to provide this information within the time period set by the superintendent shall be reason for suspension, expulsion or denying admission to the student.

 Legal Reference:    Iowa Code §§ 139.9; 282.1, .3, .6 (1995). 

                               1980 Op. Att'y Gen. 258.

 

 Cross Reference:    501    Student Attendance 

                                507.01  Student Health and Immunization Certificates

 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed  8/18/2021              Revised            

 

ATTENDANCE CENTER ASSIGNMENT

 

The board will have complete discretion to determine the boundaries for each attendance center, to assign students to the attendance centers.

Parents or guardians of siblings in the same grade level academically in grades kindergarten through grade five may request the siblings be placed in the same or different classrooms.  In order to be valid, the request must be made in writing and submitted to the school principal at the time of registration for classes, or within fourteen days after the children’s first day of attendance during the school year.  If a valid request is received by the school principal, the request must be honored.  While a parent or guardian may make a placement request that siblings be placed together or apart, the district administration retains complete discretion to select the classroom teacher(s) to which siblings are assigned.  If after the initial grading period following the placement of siblings in the same or different classrooms the school principal determines the placement is disruptive to the class; the principal may assign one or more of the siblings to different classrooms.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board annually regarding the assigned attendance center for each student.  In making the recommendation, the superintendent will consider the geographical layout of the school district, the condition and location of the school district facilities, the location of student population, possible transportation challenges, financial condition of the school district and other factors deemed relevant by the superintendent or the board.

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed   8/18/2021             Revised  8-21-19          

Students who transfer into the school district must meet the immunization and age requirements set out for students who initially enroll in the school district.

The school district shall request the student's cumulative records from the previous school district.  If the student cannot offer proof of grade level, the superintendent will make the grade level determination.  The superintendent may require testing or other information to determine the grade level.  Students expelled or suspended from their previous school district will only be enrolled after approval from the board.

The superintendent shall determine the amount of credits to be transferred.  If the student has not previously attended an accredited school, it is within the superintendent's discretion to accept or reject credits or grades.

The board may deny admission if the student is not willing to provide the board with the necessary information.

 Legal Reference:    20 U.S.C. § 1232g (1988). 

                               Iowa Code §§ 139.9; 282.1, .3; 299A (1995).

 

 Cross Reference:    501    Student Attendance 

                                505.03  Student Honors and Awards

                                507    Student Health and Well-Being

                                604.01  Competent Private Instruction

 

Approved 9/23/11   Reviewed   1/18/17             Revised   8/18/2021         

If the student's parents wish to withdraw or transfer the student from school prior to completing and graduating from the education program, they shall notify the superintendent or designee in writing as soon as possible of the decision to withdraw or transfer the student from the education program.  The student or parent should present this written notice at the office and receive instructions regarding the return of textbooks, library books, locker equipment, hot lunch tickets, etc.

The notice shall state the student's final day of attendance.  If the student is not enrolling in another school district, the school district shall maintain the student's records in the same manner as the records of students who have graduated from the school district.

If the parents wish to have the student's cumulative record sent to the new school district, the parents shall notify the superintendent or designee in writing.  This notice shall include the name of the school district and the person at the new school district to whom the student's cumulative records should be sent.  If the new school district requests the student's cumulative records, the school district will forward the cumulative records and notify the parents the records have been sent.  The notice shall inform the parents of their right to review the records sent.

If the student is of compulsory education age and not transferring to another public school district or an accredited nonpublic school, the parents shall notify the superintendent that the student is receiving competent private instruction and file the necessary competent private instruction reports.

Legal  Reference:    20 U.S.C. § 1232g (1988).

                               Iowa Code §§ 274.1; 299.1-.1A (1995). 

 

 Cross Reference:    501    Student Attendance

                                506    Student Records

                                604.01  Competent Private Instruction 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed  8/18/2021              Revised            

As part of the school district's records, the daily attendance of each student shall be recorded and maintained on file with the permanent records of the board secretary.

It shall be the responsibility of the principals to ensure that such reports are filed with the board secretary, the custodian of school records.

 Legal Reference:    Iowa Code §§ 294.4; 299 (1995).

                                281 I.A.C. 12.2(4). 

 

 Cross Reference:    501  Student Attendance

                                506  Student Records 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed    8/18/2021            Revised            

 

The district believes that traditional, in-person school attendance leads to the greatest learning opportunities for students. Students who are present in school and engaged active learners take greater ownership over their educational outcomes.  For this reason, it is the priority of the district to foster regular student attendance throughout the school year and reduce barriers to regular attendance for students in the district.

Chronic absenteeism/absences means any absence from school for more than ten percent of the [days or hours]in the [insert grading period the district uses] established by the district.

Truant/truancy means a child of compulsory attendance age who is absent from school for any reason for at least twenty percent of the [days or hours] in the [insert grading period the district uses]. Truancy does not apply to the following students who:

• have completed the requirements for graduation in an accredited school or has obtained a high school equivalency diploma;

• are excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge;

• are attending religious services or receiving religious instruction;

• are attending a private college preparatory school accredited or probationally accredited;

• are excused under Iowa Code §299.22; and

• are exempt under Iowa Code §299.24.

Students are subject to disciplinary action for truancy including suspension and expulsion.  It is within the discretion of the principal to determine, in light of the circumstances, whether a student may make up work missed because of truancy.  Students receiving special education services will not be assigned to [supervised study hall, in-school suspension] unless the goals and objectives of the student's Individualized Education Program are capable of being met.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the designated school officials, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.  The administrative regulations will indicate the disciplinary action to be taken for truancy.

 

Legal Reference: 34 C.F.R. sec. 300

28 C.F.R. Pt. 35

Iowa Code §§ 294.4; 299.

281 I.A.C. 12.3(4).

 

Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance

503 Student Discipline

504 Student Activities

506 Student Records

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed   1/18/17             Revised  7-17-24         

The school district will participate in open enrollment as a sending district.  As a sending district, the board will allow resident students who meet the requirements to open enroll to another public school district.

Parents requesting open enrollment out of the school district for their student will notify the sending and receiving school district no later than March 1 in the school year preceding the first year desired for open enrollment.  The notice is made on forms provided by the Iowa Department of Education.  The forms are available at the central administration office.

Parents of children who will begin kindergarten in the school district are exempt from the open enrollment March 1 deadline.  Parents of children who will begin kindergarten and prekindergarten children enrolled in special education programs and included in the district’s basic enrollment will file in the same manner set forth above by September 1. Parents who have good cause as defined by law for failing to meet the March 1 deadline may make an open enrollment request by September1 unless another deadline applies. 

The receiving district will approve or deny open enrollment requests according to the timelines established by law.  The parents may withdraw the open enrollment request prior to the start of the school year.  The receiving district’s superintendent will notify the parents and sending school district by mail within five days of the school district’s action to approve or deny the open enrollment request.  

Subject to applicable laws, the board may approve a student's request to allow the receiving district to enter the school district for the purposes of transportation.

An open enrollment request out of the school district from parents of a special education student is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  The determining factor for approval of such an open enrollment request will be whether the special education program available in the receiving school district is appropriate for the student's needs.  The area education agency director of special education serving the receiving district will determine whether the program is appropriate.  The special education student will remain in the school district until the final determination is made.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to maintain open enrollment request applications and notice forms.  It will also be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop appropriate office procedures and administrative regulations necessary for open enrollment requests.

 

NOTE:  This policy reflects Iowa's open enrollment law.  The option addresses the issue of transportation of open enrolled students.  The board needs to establish by policy whether it will or will not allow a receiving district to enter the district to pick up open enrolled students.  This option is on the bottom of the first page of this policy.  For more detailed discussion of this issue, see IASB's Policy Primer, June 24, 2005.

 

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 139A.8; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1.

281 I.A.C. 17.

 

Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance

506. Student Records

507.  

 

Approved    7-17-24         Reviewed                    Revised           

 

The school district will participate in open enrollment as a receiving district.  As a receiving district, the board will allow nonresident students, who meet the legal requirements, to open enroll into the school district.  The board will have complete discretion to determine the attendance center of the students attending the school district under open enrollment.

The superintendent will approve all timely filed applications by June 1; incoming kindergarten applications; good cause applications; or continuation of an educational program application filed by September 1.

The superintendent will notify the sending school district and parents within five days of the school district’s action to approve or deny the open enrollment request.  

Open enrollment requests into the school district will not be approved if insufficient classroom space exists.  Open enrollment requests into the school district will also not be approved for students who have been suspended or expelled by the administration or the board of the school district the student is or was attending until the student has been reinstated into the school district from which the student was suspended or expelled.  Once the student is reinstated, the student's open enrollment request will be considered in the same manner as other open enrollment requests provided the required timelines are met.  The district reserves the right to deny continued open enrollment to any student who meets the definition of truant.  The district will notify the truant student’s parent or guardian and district of residence of the decision to deny enrollment in the future in accordance with applicable laws.  

Open enrollment requests into the school district that, if denied, would result in students from the same nuclear family being enrolled in different school districts, will be given highest priority.  The board, in its discretion, may waive the insufficient classroom space reason for denial for students of the same nuclear family to prevent the division of a nuclear family between two school districts.  Other open enrollment requests into the school district are considered in the order received by the school district with the first open enrollment request given a higher priority than the second open enrollment request and so forth.

Students in grades nine through twelve open enrolling into the school district will be eligible for participation in interscholastic athletics, at the varsity level, in accordance with applicable law. 

Parents of students whose open enrollment requests are approved by the (board or superintendent) are responsible for providing transportation to and from the receiving school district without reimbursement.  

If an open enrolled student’s primary residence is closer to the receiving district’s attendance center than the distance from the student’s primary residence to the sending attendance center, the sending district will allow the 

student’s receiving district to send school vehicles no more than two miles into the sending district’s boundaries to pick up the student.

A receiving district may send school vehicles into the sending district’s boundaries to transport students to and from school in the receiving district, if the total enrollment of the student’s resident district is less than two thousand students; the student’s resident district is contiguous to the receiving district; and the student’s resident district has sent school vehicles into the receiving district pursuant to Iowa Code 282.18(8)(b)(1).

An open enrollment request into the school district from parents of a special education student is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  The determining factors for approval of such an open enrollment request will be whether the special education program available in the school district is appropriate for the student's needs and whether the enrollment of the special education student will cause the class size to exceed the maximum allowed.  The area education agency director of special education serving the school district will determine whether the program is appropriate.  The special education student will remain in the sending district until the final determination is made.  For children requiring special education, the receiving district will complete and provide to the resident district the documentation needed to seek Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services.

The policies of the school district will apply to students attending the school district under open enrollment.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop appropriate office procedures and administrative regulations necessary for open enrollment requests.

NOTE:  This policy reflects Iowa's open enrollment law.  The board needs to determine whether it will delegate authority to the superintendent to approve timely filed open enrollment requests.   This option is the first set of options on page one of the policy.  There are three options available to the board:

∙ board retains all approval authority over timely filed requests.

∙ board delegates all approval authority over timely filed requests.

∙ board delegates only some approval authority over timely filed requests.

After the board makes its decision, the policy needs to be edited to reflect the board's decision.

 

Legal Reference:          Iowa Code §§ 139A.8; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1.

                                      281 I.A.C. 17.

 

Cross Reference:        501.6 Student Transfers In

                                    501.7 Student Transfers Out or Withdrawals

                                    501.14 Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Sending District

                                    506 Student Records

                                    507 Student Health and Well-Being

                                    606.6 Insufficient Classroom Space

 

Approved    7-17-24                Reviewed                    Revised                   

 

The North Linn CSD believes all students should have access to a free, appropriate public education. The district will ensure that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as other children and youth. 

The term “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term includes: 

● Children and youth who are: 

⎯ Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as “doubled up”); 

⎯ Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; 

⎯ Living in emergency or transitional shelters; or 

⎯ Abandoned in hospitals. 

● Children and youth who have 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;

● Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and 

● Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above. 

To help ensure that homeless children and youth have a full opportunity to enroll, attend, and succeed at school, the board shall: 

● Designate the elementary principal as the local homeless children and youth liaison;

● Provide training opportunities for staff so staff may help identify and meet the needs of homeless children and youth; 

● Remove barriers, including those associated with fees, fines, and absences, to the identification, enrollment, retention, attendance and/or success in school for homeless children and youth;

● Ensure collaboration and coordination with other service providers; 

● Ensure transportation is provided in accordance with legal requirements; 

● Provide school stability in school assignment according to the child’s best interests;

● Ensure the privacy of student records, as provided by applicable law, including information about a homeless child or youth’s living situation; 

● Engage in the dispute resolution process for decisions relating to the educational placement of homeless children and youth as provided by applicable law; and 

● Prohibit the segregation of a homeless child or youth from other students enrolled in the district. The superintendent may develop an administrative process or procedures to implement this policy.

Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. § 6301. 

                               42 U.S.C. § 11302. 

                               42 U.S.C. §§ 11431 et seq. 

                               281 I.A.C. 33. 

Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance 

                               503.3 Fines - Fees - Charges 

                               506 Student Records 

                               507.1 Student Health and Immunization Certificates 

                               603.3 Special Education 

                               711.1 Student School Transportation Eligibility 

 

Approved 6/16/21           Reviewed                     Revised 8/18/2021

Students will be allowed to leave the school district facilities during school hours only with prior authorization from their parents, unless the parent appears personally at the student's attendance center to arrange for the release of the student during school hours, or with the permission of the principal.

Approved reasons for release of a student during the school day shall include, but not be limited to, illness, family emergencies, medical appointments, religious instruction, classes outside the student's attendance center, employment for which the student has been issued a work permit and other reasons determined appropriate by the principal.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

 

 Legal Reference:    Iowa Code § 294.4 (1995).

                                281 I.A.C. 12.2(4).

 
 

 Cross Reference:    501  Student Attendance

                                503  Student Discipline

                                504  Student Activities

                                506  Student Records 

 

Approved 9/23/11         Reviewed   1/18/17             Revised            

 

The board encourages pregnant students to continue to attend the education program as long as they are physically able to do so.  The pregnant student is encouraged to notify the principal or the guidance counselor as soon as they are aware of the pregnancy in order for the district to facilitate the student’s equal access to the district’s education programs and activities.  The school may require that a pregnant student provide the principal with a written note from their doctor relative to special conditions that might exist and specific suggestions as to how long the student may continue to attend classes.  If the student is unable to attend school because of her pregnancy, the student may be excused and arrangements made to continue her studies during their absence.  The student will resume classes upon the recommendation of her physician.

 

Legal Reference: 34 C.F.R. § 106.40

Iowa Code §§ 216; 279.8; 280.3.

 

Cross Reference: 106 Title IX – Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Prohibited

501 Student Attendance

604.2 Individualized Instruction

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed   8/18/2021             Revised   7-17-24         

Students who have attained legal age may continue the education program without payment of tuition as long as they are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and are residents of the school district.

Parents will be allowed to access and view the student's records without written permission from the student if the student is still a dependent for tax purposes.  In most cases, with the discretion of the principal or the superintendent, the student will be able to make decisions and sign documents rather than requiring parental permission or signature.

 

 Legal Reference:    20 U.S.C. § 1232g (1988).

                                Iowa Code §§ 22; 282.2, .6, .7; 285.4; 599.1; 622.10 (1995).

                                281 I.A.C. 12.3(6). 

 

 Cross Reference:    501  Student Attendance

                                506  Student Records

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed   8/18/2021             Revised             

The school district will participate in open enrollment as a sending district.  As a sending district, the board will allow resident students who meet the requirements to open enroll to another public school district.

Parents requesting open enrollment out of the school district for their student will notify the sending and receiving school district no later than March 1 in the school year preceding the first year desired for open enrollment.  The notice is made on forms provided by the Iowa Department of Education.  The forms are available at the central administration office.

Parents of children who will begin kindergarten in the school district are exempt from the open enrollment March 1 deadline.  Parents of children who will begin kindergarten and prekindergarten children enrolled in special education programs and included in the district’s basic enrollment will file in the same manner set forth above by September 1. Parents who have good cause as defined by law for failing to meet the March 1 deadline may make an open enrollment request by September1 unless another deadline applies. 

The receiving district will approve or deny open enrollment requests according to the timelines established by law.  The parents may withdraw the open enrollment request prior to the start of the school year.  The receiving district’s superintendent will notify the parents and sending school district by mail within five days of the school district’s action to approve or deny the open enrollment request.  

Subject to applicable laws, the board may approve a student's request to allow the receiving district to enter the school district for the purposes of transportation.

An open enrollment request out of the school district from parents of a special education student is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  The determining factor for approval of such an open enrollment request will be whether the special education program available in the receiving school district is appropriate for the student's needs.  The area education agency director of special education serving the receiving district will determine whether the program is appropriate.  The special education student will remain in the school district until the final determination is made.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to maintain open enrollment request applications and notice forms.  It will also be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop appropriate office procedures and administrative regulations necessary for open enrollment requests.

NOTE:  This policy reflects Iowa's open enrollment law.  The option addresses the issue of transportation of open enrolled students.  The board needs to establish by policy whether it will or will not allow a receiving district to enter the district to pick up open enrolled students.  This option is on the bottom of the first page of this policy.  For more detailed discussion of this issue, see IASB's Policy Primer, June 24, 2005.

 

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 139A.8; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1.

281 I.A.C. 17.

 

Cross Reference: 501 Student Attendance

506. Student Records

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed  7-13-2022              Revised 7-17-24           

The board shall make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children and youth of school age within the district, encourage their enrollment and eliminate existing barriers to their receiving education which may exist in district policies or practices.

A homeless child is defined as a child or youth between the ages of 5 and 21 who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes a child or youth who is living on the street, in a car, tent, or abandoned building or some other form of shelter not designed as a permanent home; who is living in a community shelter facility; or who is living with non-nuclear family members or with friends, who may or may not have legal guardianship over the child or youth of school age.

So that enrollment of homeless children and youth of school age may be facilitated, the following policy areas shall be modified as follows:

School Records:  For students transferring out of the district, records may be provided directly to the student or the student's parents.  In addition, students transferring into the district may provide cumulative records directly to the district.  The district shall not require that such records be forwarded from another district before that student may enroll.  The school shall then request the official records from the sending school.

Immunization Requirements:  Homeless students shall not be denied enrollment for lack of immunization records if:

        1.    They have a statement signed by a physician stating that immunization would be injurious to the

            child;

        2.    They provide an affidavit stating such immunization would conflict with their religious beliefs;

        3.    They are in the process of being immunized; or

        4.    They are a transfer student from another school.

The district shall make a reasonable effort to locate immunization records from the information provided or shall arrange for the student to receive immunizations.

Waiver of Fees and Charges:  Fees and charges which may present a barrier to the enrollment or transfer of a homeless child or youth may be waived in the discretion of the superintendent.

Enrollment Requirements/Placement:  Enrollment requirements which may constitute a barrier to the education of the homeless child or youth may be waived in the discretion of the superintendent.  If the district is unable to determine the grade level of the student because of missing or incomplete records, the district shall administer tests or utilize other reasonable means to determine the appropriate grade level for the child.

Residency:  For purposes of a homeless child or youth, residence for the purpose of attending school shall be where the child actually resides or the child's district of origin.  A child's district of origin is the school district where the child was last enrolled.  The deciding factor shall be the welfare of the child.  As much as possible, the child will not be required to change attendance centers within the district every time the child changes residence unless that change results in the child no longer being classified as homeless.

Transportation:  Policies or practices regarding transportation of students which might cause a barrier to the attendance of a homeless child or youth may be waived by the superintendent.

Special Services:  All services which are available to resident students shall be made available to homeless children or youths enrolled in the district.  Services include special education, talented and gifted programs, vocational education, English as a second language programs, health services and food and nutrition programs.

The contents of this policy shall supersede any and all conflicting provisions in district policies dealing with the seven policy areas discussed above.

 Legal Reference:    42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq. (1988).

                                281 I.A.C. 33. 

 Cross Reference:    501     Student Attendance

                                503.3  Fines - Fees - Charges

                                506     Student Records

                                507.1  Student Health and Immunization Certificates

                                603.3  Special Education 

                                711.1  Student School Transportation Eligibility

 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed  1/18/17              Revised