EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND STUDENTS IN STATE FACILITIES N.J.A.C. 6A:17 1

B ACKGROUND Purpose: Provides minimum standards for programs and practices to support the education of homeless children and students in State facilities. Sunset date: April 11, 2014 State Board First Discussion Level: February 12,

G ENERAL C HANGES Remove duplicative or unnecessary language Clarify existing rules Make consistent with statutory language Correct statutory and regulatory citations Correct grammar, reorganize, make stylistic changes Move definitions from Subchapters 2 and 3 to 1.2 3

S UBCHAPTER 2 – E DUCATION OF H OMELESS S TUDENTS Expand the list of living situations (parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, etc.) that classify a child as homeless for consistency with the federal McKinney-Vento Act. 2.2 Clarify throughout the subchapter that a parent/child remains homeless “until the parent of the child establishes a permanent residence or is deemed domiciled in another jurisdiction” pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-1.d. 2.3(c) 4

S UBCHAPTER 2 – E DUCATION OF H OMELESS S TUDENTS Clarify and streamline the appeal processes for determinations of homelessness, enrollment and district of residence. 2.7 Add the requirement that the State assumes fiscal responsibility for the education costs of children, who for more than one year combined, have resided in Department of Community Affairs emergency shelters or transitional living facilities for victims of domestic violence to implement federal and State law (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-1(d) and 18A:7F-50, 55 and 56). 2.8(c)3 5

S UBCHAPTER 3 – E DUCATION OF S TUDENTS IN S TATE F ACILITIES Strengthen the requirement for State agencies to provide appropriately certified substitute teachers at each facility to maintain operation of educational programs for all students. 3.4(a)1&2 Specify the necessary information to be included in the transfer of educational records to the State Agency, to ensure the continuity of the student’s educational program. 3.6(a) 6

S UBCHAPTER 3 – E DUCATION OF S TUDENTS IN S TATE F ACILITIES Articulate the process for development, implementation, review and revision of the general education student’s individualized program plan, including parental involvement, instead of referencing alternative education regulations. 3.6(d) Strengthen the requirement for the student’s school district of residence to recognize and award credit for the student’s coursework successfully completed while attending the State facility’s educational program. 3.6(e) 7