Commissioner's Newsletter
DATE: August 31, 2005
TO: School Administrators
FROM: D. Kent King
Re: Aftermath of Katrina
Missouri school districts are already receiving children who are refugees from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The number of such children seeking to enroll in Missouri schools undoubtedly will grow in the coming days and weeks.
We want to remind you that such children who move into your district qualify as homeless children. There should be no barriers to enrolling them in school promptly. They may not be excluded because of a lack of school or immunization records. These children automatically qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch, and they are eligible for Title I services.
Each district should have a staff member designated to serve as its “homeless coordinator.” If you have questions or need assistance in this area, please contact Kim Oligschlaeger, homeless coordinator for DESE, at 573-522-8763. The e-mail address is webreplyimprfdg@dese.mo.gov.
Today (by coincidence) we are mailing school districts a brochure entitled “Educating Missouri’s Homeless Children.” It is included in the DESE Mailbag. This brochure summarizes the provisions of the federal law regarding homeless children and what public schools are required to do in serving homeless children and youth. It should be a useful and timely resource for you and your staff. There is an error in this brochure, however. Schools may NOT require immunization records before enrolling homeless children. This error is the result of differences between state and federal laws concerning children’s immunizations.
The disaster in Louisiana and Mississippi is unprecedented. The nation will be called upon to assist that region with recovery and rebuilding for months to come. I know that Missouri educators will do everything in their power to help provide a secure and welcoming environment for families who are dislocated by this natural disaster.