- Delano Joint Union High School District
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Homeless and Foster Youth Liaison
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DJUHSD ensures the educational rights and protections of children and youths experiencing homelessness or in foster care. DJUHSD ensures that homeless/foster students have access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschools, as provided to other children and youths.
District Liaison
Director of Student Services
Rene Ayon
1720 Norwalk Street
Delano, CA 93215
rayon@djuhsd.org
(661) 720-4113Youth Outreach Services
Iris Guerra
1720 Norwalk Street
Delano, CA 93215
iguerra@djuhsd.org
(661)720-4127The liaison for foster youth shall:
1. Ensure and facilitate the proper educational placement, enrollment in school, and checkout from school of students in foster care
2. Ensure proper transfer of credits, records, and grades when students in foster care transfer from one school to another or from one district to another
When a student in foster care is enrolling in a district school, the liaison shall contact the school last attended by the student to obtain, within two business days, all academic and other records. When a foster youth is transferring to a new school, the liaison shall provide the student's records to the new school within two business days of receiving the new school's request.
3. When required by law, notify the foster youth's attorney and the representative of the appropriate county child welfare agency when the foster youth is undergoing any expulsion or other disciplinary proceeding, including a manifestation determination prior to a change in the foster youth's placement when he/she is a student with a disability.
4. As needed, make appropriate referrals to ensure that students in foster care receive necessary special education services and services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973
5. As needed, ensure that students in foster care receive appropriate school-based services, such as counseling and health services, supplemental instruction, and after-school services
6. Develop protocols and procedures for creating awareness for district staff, including principals, school registrars, and attendance clerks, of the requirements for the proper enrollment, placement, and transfer of foster youth
7. Collaborate with the county office of education, county placing agency, county child welfare agency, county probation department, juvenile court, and other appropriate agencies to help coordinate services, including transportation to the school of origin, for the district's foster youth.
8. Monitor the educational progress of foster youth and provide reports to the Superintendent or designee and the Governing Board based on indicators identified in the district's local control and accountability plan
The district's liaison for homeless students shall:
1. Ensure that homeless students are identified by school personnel through outreach and coordination activities with other entities and agencies
2. Ensure that homeless students are enrolled in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in, district schools
3. Ensure that homeless families and children and youth have access to and receive educational services for which they are eligible, including services through Head Start and Early Head Start programs, early intervention services under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and other preschool programs administered by the district
4. Ensure that homeless families and students receive referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health and substance abuse services, housing services, and other appropriate services
5. Inform parents/guardians of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and ensure that they are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children
6. Mediate enrollment disputes in accordance with law and the section "Resolving Enrollment Disputes" below
7. Fully inform parents/guardians of homeless students and unaccompanied youth of all transportation services, including transportation to the school of origin, and assist them in accessing transportation to the school of choice
8. Ensure that school personnel providing services to homeless students receive professional development and other support.
9. Ensure that unaccompanied youth are enrolled in school, have opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic standards established for other students, and are informed of their status as independent students under 20 USC 1087vv and that they may receive assistance from the district liaison to receive verification of their independent student status for purposes of applying for federal student aid pursuant to 20 USC 1090
10. Coordinate and collaborate with state coordinators and community and school personnel responsible for the provision of education and related services to homeless students, including the provision of comprehensive data to the state coordinator as required by law