Student Services

Rumson School District Registration Guidelines

Homeless children and youth have the right to enroll in school immediately, without required documents  (school records, medical records, proof of residency or other documents). Under the federal McKinney- Vento Act, “children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence” are considered homeless.

Specifically, children and youth are considered homeless if they are:

• Sharing the housing of others (friends, family members) due to a loss of housing, economic hardship  or similar reason. This is often referred to as “doubling up.”

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds due to a lack of alternative accommodation.

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters.

• Awaiting foster care placement.

• Living in a public or private place not designed for sleeping.

• Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, and bus or train stations.

• Migratory children living in the above situations.

Each state has a Coordinator of Homeless Education to ensure school district compliance, to collect data on  educational barriers and to provide training and technical assistance to school districts. Each school district  is required to identify a Local Homeless Liaison to ensure identification, enrollment, access to services, and  resolution of disputes. 

Rumson School District’s Homeless Liaison is the Director of Student Services, Dr. Michael Snyder. He can be reached at msnyder@rumsonschool.or or phone at (732)-842-0811 ext 357.

. The following will serve as guidelines for the registration process:

• If the school secretary determines that the student’s living situation falls under one of the above  homeless categories, he/she will refer the parent to Dr. Snyder for the completion of the McKinney-Vento Parent Enrollment Consultation Form.

• If the student is identified as eligible for special education, the parent will be directed to contact  the secretary to the Director of Student Services to complete registration and program planning.

• Additional registration paperwork should be provided to the parent/guardian and they should be  asked to complete and return it to the school as soon as possible. Please note: This information is not  needed prior to student admittance.

• The child should be enrolled in the school, entered into Genesis, and begin attending classes immediately.

• Continuing efforts must be made to obtain missing records, including all registration paperwork and special education records if the student is eligible for special education.

On an annual basis, the district Office of Special Services will review the status of all homeless students. If a  previously identified homeless student remains at the same address for more than a year, the student is no  longer considered homeless. The school secretary will receive a copy of a letter indicating a change in the  status of a student.

Please contact the Office of Special Services with any questions. For more information on the education of  homeless children and youth:

•  Information for Parents (pdf)
•  Policy - Education of Homeless Children (pdf)
•  Regulation - EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN (pdf)
•  National Association for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth
•  National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
•  Education for Homeless Children & Youth Program
•  National Association for Homeless Education Downloads
•  Determining Eligibility (pdf)
•  Know Your Rights (pdf)
•  State Provisions (pdf)
•  Student Rights (pdf)
•  What is Homelessness (pdf)
•  NCHE Brochure - English (pdf)
•  Parent Booklet - English (pdf)
•  Who is Homeless (Spanish) (pdf)
•  NCHE Brochure - Spanish (pdf)
•  Parent Booklet - Spanish (pdf)