Tales from the Field: Are You Ready for Summer School?

The Tale:

A local family lost their housing due to eviction. They are doubled up with their grandparents in a district two towns over from their school of origin. The two children are in 4th and 7th grades and were recommended to attend summer school due to poor grades. The mother calls the school to give their new address and ensure that the children can still attend the summer school program that starts in July. She also requested transportation as she doesn’t have a vehicle. She is told by the registrar that the children are not eligible to attend their summer school since they live outside of the district. The mother asks to speak to someone about her temporary housing and is told the liaison is off for the summer.

Questions to ask:

1. What happens in the summer if the MV liaison is on vacation?

2. Do students living in temporary housing outside the district lose eligibility for summer school at their school of origin?

3. What happens if the district restricts summer school participation to only students who are in good standing regarding attendance?

4. What happens if the district doesn’t offer a summer school program?

5. How do students get to summer school if they are living in temporary housing?

1. What happens in the summer if the MV liaison is on vacation?

All LEAs must ensure that there is a McKinney-Vento liaison available year-round. Due to summer vacation schedules, or some liaisons only working for 10 months (or teachers on special assignment), many LEAs may need to appoint a special interim McKinney-Vento liaison for the summer months if the liaison for the academic year is unavailable. In addition, LEAs must ensure that parents and students in temporary housing have access to up-to-date contact information for the LEA liaison, even during school closures. LEAs should provide the summer liaisons’ and any additional interim liaisons’ contact information to NYS-TEACHS. Please check “Summer Liaison ONLY” for staff members who will be the liaison only for the summer months. Updated contact information for summer liaisons should be provided as soon as possible. McKinney-Vento Liaison Update.

2. Do students living in temporary housing outside the district lose eligibility for summer school at their school of origin?

No, eligibility is ongoing and does not expire until the family has secured permanent housing. These children are eligible for summer programming even though they are doubled up outside the district. If a student becomes permanently housed before June 30, 2023 and needs access to summer school, the student is entitled to enroll in the new LEA of residence and participate in that LEA’s summer school program. Liaisons should assist families with enrollment in the new district. Note, if the student will be entering their terminal grade in a school building next fall (such as a rising 12th grader), then the student may opt to continue enrollment in the same LEA for summer school and for the terminal grade in the fall.

3. What happens if the district restricts summer school participation to only students who are in good standing regarding attendance?

If an LEA has a summer school policy that limits participation based on a student’s attendance or grades during the regular school year, the LEA must make an exception for students experiencing homelessness, so they are not excluded from attending and participating in summer school.

4. What happens if the district doesn’t offer a summer school program?

If the LEA does not offer a summer school program, but residents are able to attend summer school offered by a neighboring LEA for a fee, students in temporary housing must be afforded this same opportunity and they must not be charged a fee. Instead, your LEA will be asked to cover the summer school fee for such students. Title I, Part A set-aside funds may be used for this purpose.

5. How do students get to summer school if they are living in temporary housing?

Transportation is provided by the district where the students are enrolled for summer school, just as it is done during the 10-month school year. Students designated as eligible under the McKinney-Vento Act are entitled to receive transportation to/from summer school. If transportation is a barrier for the student to attend summer school, then the district must work to eliminate that barrier and provide round trip transportation.