No. Under the law, families who don’t have a fixed address are considered homeless if they are staying in a shelter or hotel, doubled-up or couch surfing, or living in another temporary location. Children who are homeless have the right to stay in the same school with transportation provided, even if they move out of zone or district.

Under the law, families who don’t have a fixed address are considered homeless if they are staying in a hotel or shelter, doubled-up or couch surfing, or living in another temporary location. Children who are homeless have the right to enroll in a new school even if they don’t have the normal paperwork. Schools must admit students right away to get them into class, and work with families afterwards to get the missing documents.

No. If you are not with your parents and don’t have a stable place to stay, you are considered an unaccompanied homeless youth. You have the right to enroll and make school decisions on your own or with an adult you trust. You don’t need to involve a parent or legal guardian.

Schools must provide homeless students with transportation quickly so they don’t miss class. You can demand that transportation begin immediately and may be able to seek reimbursement for any money you’ve spent taking your child to school.

Every school district must have a dispute process for homeless students, including disputes about whether the student is homeless. You have a right to a written decision from the school district, as well as the right to appeal that decision.