Homeless and Foster Care
Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program was established to make sure homeless youth have access to a free and appropriate public education while removing barriers that homeless children face. Its goal is to have the educational process continue as uninterrupted as possible while the children are in homeless situations.
Section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Act10 defines “homeless children and youths” as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term includes —
Children and youths who are:
- sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as “doubled-up”);
- living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
- living in emergency or transitional shelters; or
- abandoned in hospitals;
· 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;
· Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
· Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.
If you are aware of any children in the school district who may possibly fit the above criteria, please contact our district liaison, Cassidy Pytash.
Board Policy 251
Homeless Brochure
Early Intervention
School Use Powerpoint
Dispute Resolution Process
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homeless Program
Educational Stability for Foster Care in Pennsylvania
Foster Care in Pennsylvania
Foster Child’s Legal Rights
Rights of Students in Foster Care
Foster Care Professional Development
Basic Education Circular
Homeless and Foster Liaison
Cassidy Pytash, LSW
Blairsville- Saltsburg School District
102 School Lane
Blairsville, Pa 15717
724.787.8194 (Phone)
724.459-9209 (Fax)
pytashcassidy@b-ssd.org
ECYEH Regional Coordinator
Andrea Sheesley
ARIN IU 28
2895 W Pike
Indiana, Pa 15701
724-463-5300 x1235 (Office)
724-463-5315 (Fax)
asheesley@iu28.org