Virginia PTA Policy Statement in Support of Homeless Education
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Policy Statement approved on November 12, 2005, at the annual VA PTA convention in Tysons Corner, VA
WHEREAS The Virginia PTA has a position in the form of a Policy Statement that supports the elimination of barriers to homeless children attending public school; and
WHEREAS It is estimated that over the course of a year, between 2.3 and 3.5 million people will experience homelessness, of which 900,000 to 1.4 million will be children; and
WHEREAS In the wake of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, perhaps 500,000 to 900,000 people are homeless and likely to remain so for months, if not years because some have been financially wiped out and others cannot afford to repair their damaged homes; and
WHEREAS The U.S. Government passed the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 that included the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; and WHEREAS Homeless children are among our nation's neediest and most at-risk which is why the Homeless Assistance Act guarantees homeless students the right to immediate enrollment in school even if they lack the typical documentation required; and
WHEREAS Within a year, 28% of homeless children will attend three or more different schools, and with each change in school a student is set back academically by 4 to 6 months, which is why the Homeless Assistance Act guarantees that homeless children can attend their school of origin, if it is feasible and if it is what their parents wish, and receive transportation to the school of origin; therefore be it
RESOLVED The Virginia PTA and its constituent districts, councils and local unit leaders will work to educate their communities about the legal requirements involving the education of homeless children; and be it further
RESOLVED The Virginia PTA and its constituent districts, councils and local unit members support local School Board policies and school division actions to ensure that qualified homeless students have access to all the educational services they need; and be it further
RESOLVED The Virginia PTA and its constituent districts, councils and local unit members support implementation of and adequate funding for all the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in all school divisions and oppose the granting of any waivers of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; and be it further
RESOLVED The Virginia PTA will encourage our affiliate organizations to enact similar resolutions and submit this resolution for consideration by the National PTA.
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The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is associated with The SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. This website was produced with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, on contract no. ED-01-CO-0092/0001.