Homeless Children and Youth Publication

In accordance with 281 IAC Chapter 33, Iowa Administrative Code, the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District is required to give written notice to homeless children and families if the district is going to deny access to their educational programs. Homeless children and families may obtain free legal services by contacting:

Legal Aid Society of Polk County 1111 9th Street – 3rd Floor – Des Moines, IA 50314 – Phone: (515) 243-1193

In accordance with Chapter 33, Iowa Administrative Code, the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District en- courages homeless children and youth to enroll in school. Mrs. Roxanne Cumings, Director of Student Services, is the identified homeless education liaison. She can be contacted at 515-992-3866.

“Homeless child or youth” is defined as a child or youth from the age of 3 years through 21 years who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:

1. A child or youth who is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital; or is awaiting foster care placement;

2. A child or youth who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

3. A child or youth who is living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; or

4. A migratory child or youth who qualifies as homeless because the child or youth is living in circumstances described in paragraphs “1” through “3” above.