The KCS Homeless Education Program's purpose is to promote the identification, enrollment, retention, and educational success of children and youth experiencing homelessness--focusing on their school needs while connecting families to local resources. Kingsport City Schools Homeless Education Program serves students who qualify for assistance under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Title
IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). HOMELESS CHILDREN ARE THOSE WHO...
*Temporarily live with relatives or friends because they have nowhere else to go (typically due to a loss of housing or economic hardship). This is referred to as living "doubled up."
*Live in shelters such as SAFE House, Hope Haven, Salvation Army, the Safe Place Program at Link House, and Family Promise of Greater Kingsport.
*Live in motels, abandoned buildings, cars, tents or on the streets.
*Run away or are thrown out of their parent's home.
*Live in housing not fit for habitation (i.e. the lack of electricity or water for an extended period of time). KCS Homeless Education Program provides services such as...
*Assistance with immediate school enrollment (even when parents/unaccompanied youth lack certain records typically required for enrollment)
*Zoning exemptions for students to remain in the school of origin when it is in their best interest
*Providing transportation assistance to and from the school of origin
*Providing needed school supplies
*Connecting families to agencies and resources to help meet basic needs--such as food, shelter/housing, clothing, and medical care
*Providing information to parents/guardians and unaccompanied youth regarding the children's education rights as homeless individuals and the resources available to them
For more information, please go to https://www.k12k.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=345735&type=d&pREC_ID=753931 .