You Can Enroll in School! - Resources for Homeless Children and Youth

For questions about enrolling in school or for assistance with school enrollment, contact:

Girl holding backpack in one hand on top of a stack of books

Your local school district homeless liaison:

  • Alice Coronado: 760-432-2469

  • Trent Smith: 760-432-2361

  • 939 E. Mission Ave. Escondido CA 92025

  • projectsuccess@eusd.org

Your county homeless liaison:

  • Susanne Terry: 858-298-2062

  • 6401 Linda Vista Rd., San Diego, CA 92111

  • susanne.terry@sdcoe.net

Your homeless state coordinator:

  • Leanne Wheeler

  • State Coordinator

  • California Department of Education

  • 1430 N Street, Suite 6408

  • Sacramento, CA 95814

  • Phone: 1-866-856-8214

Even if you have:

  • Uncertain housing

  • A temporary address

  • No permanent physical address

You are guaranteed enrollment in school by the federal McKinney-Vento Act and California state law if you live:

  • In a house or apartment with more

    than one family due to loss of housing

    or economic hardship

  • With friends or family because you are

    a runaway or an unaccompanied youth

  • In substandard housing (without

    electricity, water, or heat)

  • In a shelter (family, domestic violence,

    or youth shelter or transitional living

    program)

  • In a motel, hotel, or weekly rate

    housing

  • In an abandoned building, in a car, at a

    campground, or on the streets

You can enroll in school immediately even without the documents normally required for enrollment, such as:

  • Proof of residency

  • Immunization records or other required

    health records

  • School records

  • Legal guardianship papers

Your child may:

  • Participate fully in all school activities

    and programs for which he/she is

    eligible.

  • Receive transportation to and from the

    school of origin if you request it.

  • Continue to attend the school in which

    he/she was last enrolled even if you

    have moved away from that school’s

    attendance area.

  • Qualify automatically for school

    nutrition programs.

Your responsibilities are to:

  • Make sure your child gets to school on

    time and ready to learn.

  • Stay informed of school rules,

    regulations, and activities.

  • Contact the homeless liaison for

    assistance in removing barriers to your

    child’s education.

  • Attend parent/teacher conferences,

    Back-to-School Nights, and other

    school-related activities.

It is not a crime to live in one of the above situations and schools are here to assist you and your children with enrollment and appropriate services. This information will not be shared outside of the educational entity.