Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program was established to make sure homeless youth have access to a free and appropriate public education while removing barriers that homeless children face. Its goal is to have the educational process continue as uninterrupted as possible while the children are in homeless situations. Some of the other main objectives of Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program are to inform local school districts of their responsibilities to homeless children and youth, to increase awareness about the needs of homeless children, explain current laws and policies, and provide practical tips for working with homeless children.

Homeless students are defined as individuals lacking a fixed, regular and nighttime residence, which include students living under the follow conditions:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations
• Living in emergency, transitional or domestic violence shelters
• Abandoned in hospitals
• Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, transportation stations or similar settings
• Living as migratory children in conditions meeting criteria for McKinney Vento status
• Living as run-away children
• Abandoned or forced out of homes by parents/guardians or caretakers
• Unaccompanied youth, defined as any child not in the physical custody of a parent/guardian

Our district ensures that homeless students have access to the same educational programs and services provided to other district students, and our Homeless Liaison meets with homeless students and their families to make necessary connections for social and supportive services.

For more information on support for our homeless students you may contact AGSD Homeless Education Liaison, Mr. Sean Burns or Cathy Santiago.