Homeless & Foster Youth Services - Scholarship Prep Orange County Public Charter School

Comprehensive Support for ALL SCHOLARS

At Scholarship Prep, we’re dedicated to supporting students experiencing homelessness or the foster care system, offering more than just an education—we provide a full circle of support to see students and their families succeed.

Student Services & McKinney-Vento Support

Victor Carcamo

Coordinator of Student Services
714-244-0240
vcarcamo@scholarshipschools.org

Kristen Crowe

Chief Community Officer
760-898-2715
kcrowe@scholarshipschools.org

Meeting basic needs, and beyond!

By connecting families to essential resources, our network of wraparound supports is creating real, lasting change that breaks down barriers to learning and strengthens our community.

Chromebooks for use on/off campus

Internet access via mobile hotspot

Classroom resource centers

Weekly food provisions for students and families

Individual and group counseling

Trauma trained teachers and staff

Transportation to/from school (available to homeless/foster youth)

Free before and after-school care

Laundry service

Summer programs (incl. meals, electives, and instruction)

Dress code-compliant clothing

School supplies (incl. pencils, pens, notebooks, and a backpack)

Services That REACH HIGHER

Students experincing homelessness and the foster care system qualifying under the McKinney-Vento Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act are eligible for additional support.

McKinney-Vento Rights

Under the McKinney-Vento Act and California state law, students experiencing homelessness can enroll in school even if they have uncertain housing, a temporary address, or no permanent physical address.

What is the McKinney-Vento Act?

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law created to support the enrollment and education of homeless students.

McKinney-Vento is intended to provide homeless students the same educational opportunities as housed students by removing as many barriers to learning for homeless students as possible.

Homeless youth can enroll in school even if they have uncertain housing, a temporary address or no permanent physical address.

McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless *42 U.S.C § 11434a(2)

Who qualifies for McKinney-Vento services?

Students are guaranteed enrollment in school by the federal McKinney-Vento Act and California state law if they live:

In a shelter (family, domestic violence or youth shelter) or a transitional living program.
In a motel, hotel or weekly rate housing.
In a house or apartment with more than one family because of economic hardship or loss.
In temporary foster care or with an adult who is not a parent or guardian.
In substandard housing without electricity, water or heat.
With friends or family because they are a runaway or unaccompanied youth.

What is the definition of homeless?

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition also includes:

Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
Children and youth who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters
Children and youth 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 youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, or
Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above

Foster Youth

Students experiencing the foster care system may attend their school of origin through the end of the academic school year, and school placement decisions must be made in the student’s best interest.

Who is Eligible for Foster Youth Services?
Foster Youth Rights

Who is Eligible for Foster Youth Services?

Foster Youth Rights

Assembly Bill (AB) 490 is a California law that protects the educational rights of foster youth. The law includes the following rights:

May attend their school of origin through the end of the academic school year.
Have the right to attend their local public school regardless of time of enrollment or credit deficiency.
May not be denied access to their local public school on the basis that he/she has had contact with the juvenile justice system.
School placement decisions must be made in the student’s best interest.
Have the right to be enrolled immediately regardless of fees, clothing, or records normally required for enrollment.
Records must be transferred by sending school or requested by receiving school within two business days.
A student’s grades may not be lowered due to absences caused by a change in placement, a court appearance, or a court-ordered activity.
Students must have access to sports and extracurricular activities available to all students.

Breaking Down BARRIERS

If you live under. any of these conditions, you do not need to provide the following to enroll or attend school:

Proof of residency

Immunization records or TB skin test results

School records

Legal guardianship papers

Your child may have the right to:

Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended (school of origin) or the local school where you are currently staying, even if you do not have all the documents normally required at the time of enrollment.
Continue to attend their school of origin, if requested by you and it is in the best interest.
Receive transportation to and from their school of origin, the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children, including free meals and Title I.
Receive the full protections and services provided under all federal and state laws, as it relates to homeless children, youth, and their families.

Partnerships are POWER

Beyond the incredible impact we are making in the classroom, we know that helping families meet their own needs also helps our students thrive at school. With this in mind, we connect families with information and resources for:

Community Resources

Food

Food Love Friday

In partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank in Santa Ana and Newsong Church's Mix Academy, Food Love Friday offers a variety of fresh produce and other groceries completely free to families and our community-at-large.

Each distribution we hand out 7,000 - 14,000 lbs of food. Food Love Friday is held the second and fourth Friday of the month from 2:30pm-3:30pm unless noted otherwise at our 4th-8th grade campus at 1010 W 17th St, Santa Ana, California 92706.

Local Food Pantries

Help is here

Required

Student Services & McKinney-Vento Support

Victor Carcamo

Coordinator of Student Services
714-244-0240
vcarcamo@scholarshipschools.org

Kristen Crowe

Chief Community Officer
760-898-2715
kcrowe@scholarshipschools.org