Students in Transition offered at Kennewick School District

Ensures that youth experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to succeed in school by organizing transportation to their school of origin or assisting them with enrollment in their local school without delay. Also provides referrals to health care, dental, mental health and other appropriate services. Homeless students cannot be penalized for infractions, such as absenteeism, that relate to their homelessness. Under the McKinney-Vento act, students must be allowed to attend their school of origin "to the extent feasible. A student or their family is considered homeless according to the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homelessness:

• Individuals who lack affixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
• Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.
• Living in emergency shelter or transitional housing.
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
• Living in a public or private place not designed for or regularly used as accommodations.
• Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

Homeless students also have the right to be enrolled in their local school "immediately" even if they do not have a parent or guardian, proof of residency, immunization records, school records or other documents normally required to enroll in school. Once students are enrolled, the liaison must help students get records from the last school and any medical records.

Washington 211