Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-33.2

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 10, November 13, 2024

Rule 281-33.2 - Responsibilities of school districts

A public school district (district) shall do all of the following:

(1) The district will locate and identify homeless children or youth within the district, whether or not they are enrolled in school.

(2) The district will post, at community shelters and other locations in the district where services or assistance is provided to the homeless, information regarding the educational rights of homeless children and youth and encouraging homeless children and youth to enroll in the public school.

(3) The district will examine and revise, if necessary, existing school policies or rules that create barriers to the enrollment of homeless children or youth, consistent with these rules. Examination and revision include identifying and removing barriers that prevent such children and youth from receiving appropriate credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school, in accordance with state, local, and school policies. Examination and revision also include ensuring that homeless children and youth who meet the relevant eligibility criteria do not face barriers to accessing academic and extracurricular activities, including magnet school, summer school, career and technical education, advanced placement, online learning, and charter school programs, if such programs are available at the state and local levels. School districts are encouraged to cooperate with agencies and organizations for the homeless to explore comprehensive, equivalent alternative educational programs and support services for homeless children and youth when necessary to implement the intent of these rules.

(4) The district will enact a policy prohibiting the segregation of a homeless child or youth from other students enrolled in the public school district.

(5) The district immediately will enroll a homeless child or youth, pending resolution of any dispute regarding in which school the child or youth should be enrolled.

(6) The district will determine school placement based on the best interests of a homeless child or youth. The district, to the extent feasible, will keep a homeless child or youth in the school of origin, except when doing so is contrary to the wishes of the child's or youth's parent or guardian. If the child or youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year, enrollment continues in the school of origin for the remainder of that academic year unless the parent or guardian agrees otherwise.

(7) The district will designate as the district's local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth an appropriate staff person who is able to and has been trained to carry out the duties specified in 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(6) and coordinates and collaborates with state coordinators and community and school personnel responsible for the provision of education and related services to homeless children and youth.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-33.2

Amended by IAB August 30, 2017/Volume XL, Number 5, effective 10/4/2017

Amended by IAB December 27, 2023/Volume XLVI, Number 13, effective 1/31/2024