- Gwynn Bollinger, Director of Special Education and Homeless Liason
- Melissa Majewski, Secretary. Contact with any questions.
Please be sure to view and read the Notice of Special Education Services document which is available below. This document includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) such as:
- What types of disability might qualify a child for special education and related services?
- What programs and services are available for children with disabilities?
- How do the public schools screen and evaluate children to determine eligibility for special education and related services?
- Multidisciplinary team evaluation
- Screening
- What special rights and protections do children with disabilities and their parents have?
- Rights and Protections
- Due Process Hearing Procedures
- Students Who are Mentally Gifted
- Student Records
Student Services Links
Posted for Public Review
HOMELESS EDUCATION (MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT):
Children and youth are eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act if they have been displaced from their homes and are living in a place that is not fixed, regular, or adequate, such as:
- Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
- In a place not designated as regular sleeping accommodation, such as a vehicle, park, hotel, or campground
- In a homeless or domestic violence shelter or transitional housing placement
- Outside of his/her home as an unaccompanied youth
- Awaiting foster care
- In any of the situations listed above as the child of a migrant family
YOUR RIGHTS:
Children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to:
- Continue their education in their current school and receive transportation OR enroll immediately in the school where they are temporarily housed, even if lacking the paperwork normally required.
- Participate in all applicable school programs, including supplemental services
- Receive free lunch
- Receive assistance with school-related expenses such as supplies, clothing, uniforms, etc.
Experiencing Homelessness (Pennsylvania ECYEH) Program was established to make sure homeless youth have access to a free and appropriate public education while removing barriers that homeless children face with the help of a community-based partnership.
Some students who experience Homelessness may also require Title 1 services.
Title I is a federally funded program that provides extra academic support to students in the areas of reading and/or math. One of the goals of the program is to improve the academic achievement of the disadvantaged. The goal of Title 1 is to ensure a high-quality education for every child, by providing extra help to students who need it most.
Title I is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to states and school districts to meet the needs of educationally at-risk students. Fleetwood Area School District offers targeted assistance for eligible students.
Unaccompanied youth
Unaccompanied homeless youths often face unique barriers in enrolling and succeeding in school. These barriers may include school attendance policies, credit accrual, and legal guardianship requirements. Without a parent or guardian to advocate for them and exercise parental rights, they may be denied enrollment and remain out of school for extended periods of time. Unaccompanied homeless youths also may not understand their educational rights or know how to acquire this information. Given their vulnerability to not graduating from high school on time or at all, special attention and support should be provided to this important subgroup of homeless youths.
Unaccompanied homeless youths often face unique barriers to enrolling and succeeding in school. They often lack consistent guidance and support from a caring adult, and many unaccompanied homeless youths confront the challenges and stressors of homelessness on their own. Schools are strategically positioned to support these vulnerable children and youths and may do so by, providing targeted supports to ensure regular school attendance.
Connecting youths with trained and committed mentors (including academic and peer
mentors) to provide support, guidance, and a sense of connection to school. Such mentors
can also help monitor youths’ progress and develop graduation plans and connecting unaccompanied homeless youths to mental health supports, as needed.
Many of the identification strategies used for other subgroups of homeless students are also effective for identifying unaccompanied homeless youths, but additional strategies should be employed that target the students based on their unique characteristics. For example, establishing trust with unaccompanied youths, who may constitute their own community and culture or smaller networks and subcultures, is vital to ensuring they stay connected to school and openly share information needed to help them succeed in school.
Under Part B of the IDEA, public agencies must determine whether an unaccompanied homeless
youth need a surrogate parent and pending the appointment of a surrogate parent when necessary, appropriate staff of emergency shelters, transitional shelters, independent living programs, and street outreach programs may be appointed as temporary surrogate parents, until a surrogate parent can be appointed that meets all applicable IDEA requirements.
For more information or to contact the Homeless Education Liaison or Title 1 services please contact:
FASD Homeless Liaison and Unaccompanied Youth Contact:
Gwynn E Bollinger
Director of Special Education
Fleetwood Area School District
801 North Richmond Street
Fleetwood, Pa. 19522
610.944.8111 ext. 10301
https://www.berksiu.org/students-families/k-12-education-student-services/ecyeh/
Title I Contact:
Dr Natalie Lytle
Director of Curriculum
801 North Richmond Street
Fleetwood Pa. 19522
610.944.8111 ext. 10104