New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students

Students who transfer schools often do worse in school than those who don't transfer. The McKinney-Vento Act can help solve this problem by allowing students to stay in the same school and get free transportation.

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FAQs: Summer School

Summer school offers a critical opportunity for all students to make up for lost time, re-take failed courses, and gain extra credits. Any student who experiences homelessness and who is required to attend summer school to advance must be provided the opportunity to do so. Please see the May 2008 state-issued memo for more details on summer school for students experiencing homelessness.

Must LEAs designate a liaison for summer months?

All LEAs must ensure there is a designated liaison for the summer months as well as the school year. Many LEAs will need to appoint an alternate liaison for the summer months if the liaison for the academic year is unavailable. LEAs should provide the summer liaison's contact information. Please check "Summer Liaison ONLY" for staff members who will serve as the liaison only for the summer months.

Are students who were designated as homeless during the school year eligible to attend summer school?

Yes. Any student who is experiencing homelessness and who is required to attend summer school to advance to the next grade must be provided with the opportunity to do so.

What if there is a fee associated with the summer school program?

This fee should be waived for students who experienced homelessness during the school year and for students who experience homelessness during the summer session.

What if the LEA does not offer a summer school program?

If your district does not offer a summer program but permanently housed students attend summer school in a neighboring district for a fee, the fee should be waived for students who experienced homelessness during the school year and for students who are homeless during the summer session.

Are students experiencing homelessness entitled to transportation to summer school?

All homeless students who are enrolled in the LEA should be provided transportation to summer school if the student needs summer school to ensure academic success. Summer school transportation should be provided to homeless students enrolled in the LEA if the lack of such transportation would be a barrier to attendance and therefore a barrier to academic success. Homeless students enrolled in the LEA must be provided transportation to summer school if such transportation is provided to permanently housed students.

In some circumstances, the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) is required to provide transportation for students who are placed by the LDSS in emergency housing outside their designated school district. If the LDSS declines to provide transportation for a student attending summer school and if lack of summer school is a barrier to academic success, the designated school district should provide the student with summer school transportation.