Foster and Homeless Youth
The Mendota Unified School District welcomes all children and their families and provides a
quality education to all students regardless of their living situation. Students who qualify as
homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act may enroll immediately while records are obtained.
District personnel may recommend placement in a school based on a school’s total enrolment
and the educational needs of the child. If the parent/guardian or student does not agree with
the placement, then they have the right to appeal this decision. Appeals should be made orally
and in writing to the McKinney-Vento Liaison. Students will be immediately enrolled in the
school in which enrollment was requested while an appeal is pending.
quality education to all students regardless of their living situation. Students who qualify as
homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act may enroll immediately while records are obtained.
District personnel may recommend placement in a school based on a school’s total enrolment
and the educational needs of the child. If the parent/guardian or student does not agree with
the placement, then they have the right to appeal this decision. Appeals should be made orally
and in writing to the McKinney-Vento Liaison. Students will be immediately enrolled in the
school in which enrollment was requested while an appeal is pending.
District's Liaisons
Jose M. Ochoa Esther Cuevas
Director of State & Federal Programs Administrative Assistant
115 McCabe Ave
Mendota, CA 93640
559-655-2503
Who is “homeless”?
Children or youth (including children of migrant workers) who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence are homeless. Fixed means the home is connected to the ground and is not easy to move. Regular means a place where the child sleeps every night. Adequate means the home meets modern standards of living. Children who are sharing someone else’s housing because they lost theirs or because they cannot afford their housing are homeless.
Children and youths who are homeless may be living in:
* motels;
* hotels;
* trailer parks (this does not refer to a mobile home (trailer) park, this refers to a type of camping ground for fifth
wheel camper trailers or other types of movable campers);
* camping grounds because they do not have an adequate home;
* emergency or transitional shelters;
* or are abandoned in hospitals.
Children and youth who are homeless may have a place they usually sleep that is public or private not meant to be a regular place for people to sleep. They may also be living in:
* cars;
* parks;
* public spaces;
* abandoned buildings;
* substandard housing (housing that does not meet modern standards of living);
* bus or train stations;
* or other similar settings.
If you are not sure, please contact the person listed on this notice.
nighttime residence are homeless. Fixed means the home is connected to the ground and is not easy to move. Regular means a place where the child sleeps every night. Adequate means the home meets modern standards of living. Children who are sharing someone else’s housing because they lost theirs or because they cannot afford their housing are homeless.
Children and youths who are homeless may be living in:
* motels;
* hotels;
* trailer parks (this does not refer to a mobile home (trailer) park, this refers to a type of camping ground for fifth
wheel camper trailers or other types of movable campers);
* camping grounds because they do not have an adequate home;
* emergency or transitional shelters;
* or are abandoned in hospitals.
Children and youth who are homeless may have a place they usually sleep that is public or private not meant to be a regular place for people to sleep. They may also be living in:
* cars;
* parks;
* public spaces;
* abandoned buildings;
* substandard housing (housing that does not meet modern standards of living);
* bus or train stations;
* or other similar settings.
If you are not sure, please contact the person listed on this notice.
What are the education rights of children and youth who are homeless?
Our schools provide the same educational services to all students without regard to their living situation. Children and youth who are homeless also have rights that include:
* Based on what is best for the child or youth, the child or youth can continue to attend the “school of origin” or be immediately enrolled in any public school where the student now lives. This includes any school where students who are not homeless attend that is in the area where the child or youth now lives.
* Being given services without delay, such as transportation and meal programs.
* Other appropriate services and programs, such as programs for:
* gifted children;
* children with disabilities;
* English learners;
* career and technical education;
* and preschool.
* Based on what is best for the child or youth, the child or youth can continue to attend the “school of origin” or be immediately enrolled in any public school where the student now lives. This includes any school where students who are not homeless attend that is in the area where the child or youth now lives.
* Being given services without delay, such as transportation and meal programs.
* Other appropriate services and programs, such as programs for:
* gifted children;
* children with disabilities;
* English learners;
* career and technical education;
* and preschool.
Help in school through the district’s federally funded Title I program.
A student who is homeless can receive Title I services even if the student is not attending a Title I funded school.