A private school education at a public school price
McKinney-Vento Homeless Information
Rooks Creek CCSD 425 Homeless Policy
Rooks Creek Consolidated Community School District 425 shall provide an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every homeless student shall have equal access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who are not homeless. This commitment to the educational rights of homeless children, youth and youth not living with a parent or guardian applies to all services, programs and activities provided or made available, as prescribed in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Homeless Definition Under the McKinney-Vento Act
According to the federal McKinney-Vento Act, a family and the children of the family are considered in transition (or homeless) if they and/or their children:
(A) Lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
(B) This includes—
(1) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason…
(2) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings …
(3) children who are unaccompanied youth, which includes youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian…
(4) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
(5) migratory children.
Rights of Children of Families in Transition (or homeless)
Children in this situation are entitled to:
(A) Immediate Enrollment -The right to be enrolled immediately in school, without medical or academic records, regardless of district policy.
(B) Choice of Schools -The homeless child has three choices:
School of Origin - The School the child last attended.
School of Origin - The school the child attended when he/she became homeless
The school closest to temporary housing
(C) Transportation - Homeless children are entitled to the same rights to transportation as other children in their district. School districts are responsible for transportation costs.
(D) Services - Homeless children are entitled to the same services that are available to other children in their districts.
(E) They qualify for wavier fees and free and reduced lunch. “School fees” that are waived include, but are not limited to: Charges for text books, instructional materials, locks, towels, lab equipment, field trips, for uniforms or equipment related to sports or fine arts programs, supplies related to a particular class such as shop, home economics, lab, and art. Fees for graduation like cap and gowns, school records, health services, and driver’s education.
(F) Dispute Resolution - If problems arise between the school and parents or between districts, the parent shall be referred to an intermediary in each Regional Office of Education. In the meantime, the child must remain in school and receive transportation.
Rooks Creek CCSD 425 Homeless Liaison
If you have any questions or know of any family in the district who may fit the above definition, please contact:
Todd Bean
Homeless District Liaison
Graymont Grade School
228 Lydia Street
Phone: 815-743-5346
Fax: 815-743-5392
ALL INFORMATION IS KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
Resources for Families in Transition
Local Services and Agencies
American Red Cross: Livingston County Chapter
825 West Reynolds St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 842-1767
(309) 662-0500 (crisis)
Salvation Army
112 N. Division St. (across from County Market)
Pontiac, IL 61764
Contact: Linda Voorhees
Hours: 8:30 – 4:30
Services: Can provide clothing, blankets, monetary resources
(815) 844-5005
Livingston County Housing Authority
903 W. Reynolds St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 844-6013
Medical Services
Livingston County Health Department
310 E. Torrance
Pontiac, IL 61764
Services: Immunization clinics, communicable disease control, including tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, maternal and child health services
Contact: Malinda Hillman, Administrator
(815) 844-7174
Mental Health / Counseling
Institute for Human Resources
820 W Custer Avenue
Pontiac, IL 61764
Services: Outpatient mental health counseling for adults and children, substance abuse services
Hours: M-W 8:30 am – 8:00 pm, R-F 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
(815) 844-6109
Project Oz
Services: for homeless youth (runaway and locked out)
1105 W. Front St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
Office: (309) 827-0377
Hotline: (309) 827-4005
ADV & SAS (Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services)
Services: Provides confidential services to victims of domestic violence, individual and group counseling, confidential emergency shelter
(800) 892-3375 (24-hour hotline)
Food Pantries
Livingston County Community Pantry
Open: Mondays and Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. & Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Address: 420 N. Plum Street, Pontiac, IL 61764
Serves: Livingston County
First Baptist Church Food Pantry
Open: Wednesday 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Address: 515 N. Ladd Street, Pontiac, IL, 61764
Serves: Livingston County
St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry Pontiac
Open: Thursdays 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Address: 401 E Water St, Pontiac, IL 61764
Serves: Livingston County
Salvation Army - Pontiac
Open: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and Fridays 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Address: 112 N. Division Street, Pontiac, IL 61764
Serves: Livingston County
Christian Fellowship Food Pantry
Open: Mondays 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Address: 715 West Lincoln Avenue, Pontiac, IL 61764
Serves: Livingston County
Hotlines
AIDS (800) 243-2437
Child Abuse (800) 252-2873
Drug & Alcohol (800) 662-4357
Hunger Hotline (800) 359-2163
Runaway Hotline (800) 231-6946
STD Hotline (800) 227-8922
Suicide Hotline (800) 248-7475
Youth Crisis Hotline (800) 448-4663