SCHOOL PLACEMENT OF HOMELESS STUDENTS

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It is the policy of the Mountain Brook Board of Education to make school placement decisions in the “best interest” of a homeless child or youth.  Any homeless student will continue in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness when a family becomes homeless between academic years or during an academic year; or for the remainder of the academic year if the child or youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year.  The student may enroll in any school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the student is actually living are eligible to attend.

If school enrollment decision is contrary to the wishes of the child or youth’s parent/guardian, the school district will provide the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth with a written explanation of the decision, a statement of the right to appeal, and procedure for appealing the placement decision.  The complainant must file a School Enrollment Dispute form with the school district in which the student is presently enrolled.  The Homeless Liaison will take steps to resolve the dispute.

 When a dispute arises regarding school placement, the system will immediately enroll the homeless student in the school in which enrollment is sought by the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth, pending resolution of the dispute.  The Homeless Liaison will expeditiously take steps to resolve the dispute.  If the dispute cannot be settled by the Homeless Liaison, the liaison will assist the complainant in seeking technical assistance from an appropriate service agency.

Adopted:  January 8, 2007

Updated: November 10, 2014

 Please contact the Mountain Brook Schools Homeless Liaison, Lanie Kent, at 205-871-4608 for questions regarding Homeless Education.