It is the policy of the Board to ensure that homeless children and youth are provided with equal access to its educational programs, have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State of Wisconsin academic standards, are not segregated on the basis of their status as homeless and to establish safeguards that protect homeless students from discrimination on the basis of their homelessness.

As per the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the definition of homeless children and youths means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence due to economic hardship.

It includes children and youths who:

• Are temporarily sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason

• Are living in hotels or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations

• Are living in emergency shelters

• Have a nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

• Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings

Runaway children or children who are abandoned

Migratory children and unaccompanied youth (youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian) may be considered homeless if they meet the above definition.

Homeless status is determined in cooperation with parents, or in the case of unaccompanied youth, the local school district liaison. Homeless status also may be documented through contact with the local school district.

A complete copy of the district's policy on Homeless Students (Policy #5111.01) can be found on the school district website or by calling the district office at 715-672-8919 to request a copy.

If you or someone you know fits the definition of homelessness, please call or encourage that family to contact the Durand-Arkansaw School District homeless liaison: Director of Pupil Services, Phone: 715-672-8921, Durand-Arkansaw School District, 604 7th Avenue East, P.O. Box 190, Durand, WI 54736.