Marion Center School District Homeless Liaison

Dear Parents/Guardians:

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In compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as reauthorized in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Marion Center Area School District is attempting to identify all children within the district that may be experiencing homelessness.

The term homeless children and youth is defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes individuals:

Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason;
Living in a motel, hotel, trailer park or campground due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
Living in emergency or transitional shelters;
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings;
Living in substandard housing (no running water, working utilities, infestations, etc.).

Children experiencing homelessness may qualify for assistance with free school lunch, school supplies/materials, tutoring and transportation so that they can remain in their school of origin throughout their homeless episode.

If you believe your child please contact my office if you believe your child(ren) may qualify for this service by following the link for a general guide for knowing your options.

www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/Homeless%20Education/ECYEH%20General%20Guide.pdf

If your living situation changes during the school year, and you and your children become homeless, please be sure to contact the school. We will work with you so that your child(ren)’s education is disrupted as little as possible.

Sincerely,

Amy Gaston, Director of Education

724-397-5551 ext 5413

School Board Policy #251: https://www.boarddocs.com/pa/mari/Board.nsf/Public#