The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is gearing up to enroll students displaced by recent wildfires in California, according to a board meeting on January 23. Director of Student Services Dr. Frank Dussan stated that 145 students have requested enrollment so far, with 77 approved and 46 already enrolled.
The situation is fluid, with numbers fluctuating as family situations change. Displaced students can be added through various channels, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which requires immediate enrollment for “homeless” children, or a recent executive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, suspending state rules to allow displaced students to attend schools outside their district.
The district is working with displaced families to identify their needs and enroll them as soon as possible. Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton noted that SMMUSD has a Basic Aid status, which means no additional funding comes with new students, but the district is trying to facilitate enrollment without hurting class sizes.
Assistant Superintendent Melody Canady is in talks with state officials about an unfunded mandate for new students displaced by wildfires. The district’s Bilingual Community Liaisons are receiving training and conducting campus tours, while the Mental Health Coordinator will collaborate with the City of Santa Monica on the McKinney-Vento process.
Source: https://smdp.com/featured/displaced-students-begin-enrollment-into-smmusd-schools