Verona Area School District's Families In Transition (FIT) program provides assistance to students living in temporary housing. It is a federally funded program that assists families with school-aged children to overcome barriers to full participation in the public educations system, including identification, enrollment and referral services.
If your family lives in any of the following situations:
- In a emergency, transitional, or domestic violence shelters
- A motel or campground due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
- In a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station
- Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- Unaccompanied homeless youth: child or youth who meets the McKinney-Vento definition and is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian
- Migratory children who are living in circumstances described above
Your school-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.
Your child may be eligible to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
- Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
- Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible.
- If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children's needs.
If you believe your child(ren) may be eligible or you know of a VASD student who may be in transition, please contact:
Melissa Salisbury, LCSW
FIT (Families In Transition) Social Worker
Phone: (608) 400-1129
Email: salisbma@verona.k12.wi.us