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Enrollment

Q.   Can I enroll my school-age children in Texas schools, even though we are evacuees from Louisiana and are only temporarily in Texas?
A.   Absolutely. Most children who evacuated from the hurricane are considered "homeless" under federal and state law and thus entitled to special consideration. For example, Texas public school districts and public charter schools will admit upon request evacuees who are "homeless" and give them a full and equal opportunity to succeed.

Documents

Q.   What if I don't have any school records for my child?
A .   A Texas school district will immediately enroll a "homeless" student where the student is present, even if the student has no proof of residency or documentation from his or her prior school district.

The Louisiana Department of Education and the Texas Education Agency have collaborated to make school records of Louisiana students in hurricane-affected areas available to Texas school districts. Enrollment data, discipline data, transcript records, special education records, and assessment results for Louisiana students are all accessible by school personnel from this secured site.

Immunizations

Q.  What if we have no immunization records to satisfy the Texas requirement for enrollment?
A.  The Texas Department of State Health Services has announced a 30-day provisional enrollment for students transferring from Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama. Normal immunization requirements for children attending school in Texas are being temporarily waived for children displaced by Hurricane Katrina. This period may be extended depending on the hurricane recovery progress.

Liaison

Q.  Is there somebody I can contact if I have questions about the curriculum, programs, and other details about my child's education while enrolled in the district?
A.  Each school district has a "liaison" that is responsible for advocating for the "homeless" child and to assist the family in identifying other community resources. For more information about the duties of the liaison, see www.utdanacenter.org/theo/pdffiles/LEAs.pdf. When you enroll your child, ask for the name and phone number of the district's "homeless liaison."

Special Services

Q.  What services are "homeless" children with special needs eligible to receive?
A.   In addition to offering the regular curriculum, a school district or public charter school will provide to eligible students special services such as special education, gifted and talented, bilingual or English as second language (ESL) services.


Additional services may be provided through Title I (federal program for disadvantaged students) in the district or campus.

Further, any student who is in a homeless situation is eligible to receive free school meals and enrollment in pre-kindergarten programs in the district.

Diplomas

Q.  Will Louisiana seniors who are evacuees attending Texas schools get a Texas diploma or a Louisiana diploma?
A.   The Louisiana Department of Education and the Texas Education Agency are collaborating to permit Louisiana seniors attending Texas schools to graduate with a Louisiana diploma.

Accountability Testing

Q.  Does my child have to take the Texas accountability tests?
A.  Texas accountability standards requires that graduating seniors pass exit level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKs) test in English language, mathematics, social studies, and science.

However, parents of 12th-graders displaced by Hurricane Katrina may opt out of their student's taking the October 2005 administration of the exit level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKs) test. Even so, 11th-graders and 12th graders who expect to remain in Texas and graduate in Texas generally should take the October 2005 administration of the test.

All students enrolled in Texas schools in the spring 2006 must take the statewide administration of the appropriate accountability tests.

Talk to the school counselor if you have any questions about graduation or accountability testing.

Certification of Louisiana teachers

Q.   Can a displaced teacher from Louisiana teach in the Texas public schools?
A.   The Texas State Board for Educator (SBEC) certification approved a one-year, emergency certificate to permit out-of-state educators to teach in Texas. Interested educators should contact the teacher hotline at the Texas Education Agency at 1-866-435-7090. Teacher certification records may be located at www.teachlouisiana.net/.

More information

Q.  Where can I get more information about Texas public schools for students displaced by a hurricane?
A.  Try the following resources for more detailed information:

• Texas Education Agency Hurricane Hotline:
  Texas Education Agency has a hotline to answer education questions arising from Hurricane Katrina. The toll-free number is 1-800-957-5109. Staff members from the Texas Education Agency will be answering calls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
• Texas Education Agency Hurricane Information website:
  The Texas Education Agency has a web site devoted to information about evacuees, with links to supporting documents. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/hcane/index.html
• The Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) website:  www.utdanacenter.org/theo/
  The Charles Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin, website: http://www.utdanacenter.org/
• Louisiana Department of Education website:
  www.doe.state.la.us/lde/index.html
• Texas Education Agency website:
  www.tea.state.tx.us/hcane/index.html