Tips
If you are staying at a youth shelter and
are changing schools, it might help to You have a
have a copy of a letter from the shelter to Ohio State Legal Services
make enrolling easier. 555 Buttles Avenue RIGHT to
Columbus, OH 43215
However, even if you don’t have proof,
the school must enroll you 614-221-7201 attend school!
immediately while they search for the 800-589-5888
appropriate records. www.oslsa.org
Even if you have been out of school for
awhile, you still have a right to go to your
school of origin.
Contact your homeless liaison if you need
help.
Equal Justice Foundation
Don’t let anyone make you feel like 88 E. Broad St., Suite 1590
you don’t have a choice just
Columbus, OH 43215
because you’re a youth!
614-221-9800
800-898-0545
Your Responsibilities
• During the school year, you should be
going to school every day.
• Immediately ask the school for A Guide to the
transportation help if you need it.
Educational Rights of
• Ask for special tutoring or counseling Youth Empowerment Program Unaccompanied Youth
to help make up for lost time. Coalition on Housing &
Homelessness in Ohio Experiencing
• Insist on what you think is the best 175 S. 3rd Street, Suite 250 Homelessness in Ohio
education for yourself. Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-280-1984
Who is “Homeless”? School Enrollment In Ohio...
For the purposes of education, a Ohio schools must allow you to
“homeless student” is someone who enroll in school immediately.
doesn’t have a “fixed, regular, or
adequate place to live,” including
What about School Records?
children and youth who are in any of the
If you are starting at a new school, the
following living situations:
school must enroll you, even if you
sharing housing of relatives or friends
don’t have records, including Each school district has a “homeless
due to loss of housing, economic immunizations, transcripts, or transfer liaison,” who is responsible for
hardship, or a similar reason; forms. handling issues related to students
It is the duty of the school to help you living in transition. “Liaison” is a fancy
living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or in getting the records from the last word for someone who helps connect
camping grounds due to the lack of school you attended. people with the services they need.
other adequate options; and
What about Transportation? If you don’t know who your homeless
living in emergency or transitional
liaison is, you can:
shelters, on the street, in a car, or
similar substandard arrangements.
Visit the Ohio Department of
Education’s website at
Who is an “Unaccompanied http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templa
Youth? If you choose to stay in your “school of tes/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?pa
origin,” the school is required to inform ge=2&TopicRelationID=1037
you of the availability of transportation
A youth in a homeless situation (see Contact the State Coordinator at (614)
services and provide them to you.
above) who is not in the physical custody 466-4161.
of a parent or guardian
If you choose to enroll in a school in the
district where you currently live, then Disputes
Choosing a School “comparable services” must be provided
to you (comparable = same as services
provided to the non-homeless students in If a dispute arises between you and a
With the help of your district, you have a district, you must be immediately enrolled
district).
choice: in the school of choice while the dispute
Stay in the school you were attending Your district’s homeless liaison must help is being resolved.
when you lost housing (“school of origin”); you with this process and act in your best
OR interests.
Enroll in the school nearest your
temporary location.