In compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as reauthorized in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Shaler Area School District is attempting to identify all children within the district that may be experiencing homelessness.

The term homeless children and youth is defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes individuals:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason;

• Living in a motel, hotel, trailer park or campground due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters;

• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings;

• Living in substandard housing (no running water or working utilities, infestations, etc.).

Children who are experiencing homelessness may qualify for assistance with free school lunch, school supplies/materials, tutoring and transportation so that they can remain in their school of origin throughout the duration of their homeless episode.

If you believe your child(ren) may qualify for this service, please contact Laurie Cortazzo, School Social Worker and Homeless/Foster Liaison. She can be reached at: 412-492-1200 ext. 8-3508, cell: 412-533-2813 or by email at: cortazzol@sasd.k12.pa.us.

If your living situation changes during the school year, and you and your children become homeless, please be sure to contact the school. We will work with you so that your child(ren)’s education is disrupted as little as possible.

For more information, please click here.