Summer School, Extended School Year Services, Food Insecurity, and Homelesness
Summer School:
No guidance has been issued by NYSED regarding summer school yet. Governor Cuomo, however, has announced that the Districts which provide summer school will have to do so remotely and there will be no in-person summer school this year.
Please check with your school district for more information.
Extended School Year Services: - Extended School Year Services (ESY) are determined by the CSE and are listed on a student’s IEP. If your child’s IEP includes ESY, they are entitled to the special education services and related services, on their IEP.
- On June 5, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order stating ‘special education services and instruction required… may be provided in person for the summer term…”
You may read the executive order in its entirety, here. - On June 8, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) released an interim advisory regarding In-Person Special Education Services and Instruction. If you’d like to read the full advisory, you can find it here.
The language and dates used in the Executive Order, and the NYSDOH advisory, are unclear. As NYS provides additional and updated information, we will update our website and Facebook page.
- Students in temporary housing have important rights related to summer school: All students who experience homelessness, and who have been recommended to attend summer school, must be provided the opportunity to do so. If your district does not offer a summer school program, but permanently housed students are able to attend summer school in a neighboring district for a fee, students in temporary housing must be afforded this same opportunity, and they must not be charged the fee. Instead, your district will be asked to cover the summer school fee for such students.
If you have questions about your child’s education this summer, please call LIAC.
Food Insecurity: - Schools may continue to provide food during the summer, but please check with your district for specific information and details.
- McKinney-Vento liaisons in each district can refer parents to agencies that can provide food assistance for students and their families. Contact your district’s liaison (check your district’s website for liaison/contact information).
- New York State may be able to provide additional assistance:
Click here for programs and information.
- School Districts are providing grab and go meals for breakfast and lunch. Check your district’s website for locations and times. Many districts are providing weekend meals to be picked up on Fridays.
- Long Island Cares can deploy their Children’s Food Trucks to your neighborhood. Call them at 631-582-3663 (FOOD).
- Island Harvest has programs to feed children and families. Call (516) 294-8528 for more information.
- Food Banks are providing meals and groceries throughout New York State. To find a food bank near you, click here. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. Check with your local churches, places of worship, as well as local and county governments for additional resources. Please call LIAC if you need further assistance.
Homelessness: If your housing situation has changed, you might qualify for protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. McKinney-Vento applies to students in a wide range of temporary living situations, including: - shelters and emergency or transitional housing;
- students living in hotels, motels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate housing; and
- students who are “doubled-up” with friends or relatives due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
Unaccompanied youth who live in these types of arrangements are also protected by this law. Students who are protected by McKinney-Vento are entitled to immediate enrollment in their school of origin or their local school and full participation in school. Your school district’s McKinney-Vento liaison can also refer you to agencies to assist with: - eviction prevention,
- shelters,
- transitional housing, and
- affordable housing assistance.
Nassau County Social Services may provide assistance: Click here for information.
Suffolk County residents may receive help from Social Services: Click here for information.
For additional housing assistance resources, check out: Address the Homeless, Transitional Services of New York for Long Island/Haven House/Bridges, and Bethany House
Please call LIAC if you have questions regarding your rights.
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