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ATLAS team outlines foster- and homelessness-related school protections and supports
Summary
ATLAS liaisons presented federal- and district-level rights for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness, described immediate enrollment, school-of-origin protections, and listed resources the district provides (backpacks, hygiene items, transportation assistance).
Stacy Felder, an ATLAS liaison, and Sonia Esparza, an ATLAS program specialist, told the District Advisory Council that foster youth and students experiencing homelessness have specific legal rights and local supports designed to keep them in school and limit learning loss.
"Foster youth have the right to immediate enrollment," Felder said, and she summarized the school-of-origin rule that allows students to remain at a stable school when that is in their best interest. The presenters cited Welfare and Institutions Code references when explaining foster-care definitions and noted the McKinney-Vento Act as the federal law that governs students in homeless situations.
Presenters described practical steps the ATLAS team takes: assisting with enrollment when records are missing; helping obtain birth certificates and reduced-cost or free identification; supplying backpacks, clothing and hygiene items from the department's inventory; and coordinating transportation by using district buses, public transit (Omnitrans) or, when necessary, contracted services such as HopSkip Drive.
Esparza said resource distribution is handled case by case. "Each situation is different, so distribution of resources is determined by availability as well as a case-by-case assessment," she said. The team also partners with community organizations and a district-created child-welfare fund to provide emergency assistance when families face fires, floods or similar crises.
The ATLAS program offers surrogate educational rights-holder training when a parent is unavailable or a court has limited parental rights, and liaisons act as single points of contact for social workers, foster parents, judges and school staff. Presenters also outlined student clubs and field trips designed to build connection and resilience among participating students.
The ATLAS presenters invited anyone with personal questions to speak privately after the meeting and asked community members to contact the department about donating supplies.
The ATLAS presentation was followed by a brief question-and-answer period in which staff clarified transportation options and how surrogate training is offered.
