McKinney Vento Liaison

Nikki Loeser

[email protected]
4510 Charlestown Rd. Ste 400 PMB 312
New Albany, IN 47150-8516

Participation and Removal of Barriers

Indiana Gateway Digital Academy (INGDA) has an obligation to remove barriers to enrollment and retention of the student experiencing homelessness. (See sections 721(2), 722(g)(1)(I)). A school selected on the basis of the student’s best interest must enroll the student immediately even if the student is unable to produce the records normally required for enrollment (such as previous academic records, records of immunization and other health-related records, proof of residency, proof of guardianship, birth certificates, or other documents), has missed application or enrollment deadlines during the period of homelessness, or has outstanding fees.

INGDA provides McKinney-Vento/Homeless assistance and support for eligible families as defined below:
(A) Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and (B) Includes:

1. Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or

2. Children and youths who have 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. Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

4. Migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

Children and youth are considered homeless if they fit both part A and any one of the subparts of part B of the definition above.
In determining the best interest of a homeless student, the school shall to the extent feasible, keep a homeless student in the school of origin, except when doing so is contrary to the wishes of the student’s parent or guardian (policy 5111.01).

• If the homeless student is sent to a school other than the school of origin or a school requested by the parent or guardian, the school will provide a written explanation, including a statement regarding the right to appeal, to the homeless student’s parent or guardian; and
• In the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison for homeless students shall assist in placement or enrollment decisions, considering the views of the unaccompanied youth, and providing notice to the student of the right to appeal.

Please contact Nikki Loeser at [email protected] for additional information.

IDOE State Coordinator Contact Information:

• Charie Gibson, IDOE Homeless Education Specialist – 317.232.0957
• Flora Jones, IDOE Director Student Pathways & Opportunities [email protected]

IDOE Website
Homeless Students Rights
National Center for Homeless Education: McKinney-Vento Information and Resources