MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS EDUCATION COMPLAINT GUIDELINES

Every effort must be made to resolve the complaint or dispute at DPS before it is brought to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). It is the responsibility of the DPS to inform the complainant of the DPS Complaint Resolution Procedure when a question concerning the education of a homeless child or youth arises.

STEP ONE:

Notify DPS’s homeless coordinator. The homeless coordinator serves as a liaison between the homeless child and the school the child attends. Someone in the school or in the superintendent’s office will be able to identify the homeless coordinator.

Request a copy of or access to the DPS Board of Education policies addressing the education of homeless children and youths and review them. Make an appointment with the homeless coordinator to discuss the complaint.

If the dispute is not resolved after the initial discussion with DPS homeless coordinator, the complainant may file a complaint in writing to DPS homeless coordinator for further review. In the complaint, include a request that a written proposed resolution of the dispute of a plan of action be provided within five (5) days of the date the complaint was received by DPS’s homeless coordinator. A review of the proposal or plan of action with the homeless coordinator should follow. The parties may mutually agree on an extension; however, every effort should be made to resolve the complaint in the shortest possible time.

STEP TWO:

If the dispute is not resolved at the DPS homeless coordinator level, the complaint may be forwarded to the DPS superintendent for review followed by a meeting with the superintendent to discuss the dispute. The complainant should request from the superintendent a written resolution within five (5) days of the date of the discussion. The parties may mutually agree on an extension; however, every effort should be made to resolve the complaint in the shortest possible time.

STEP THREE:

If the dispute is not resolved at the DPS superintendent level, the complainant may take the matter before the MPS board education for resolution.

If the dispute is not resolved in a satisfactory manner at the DPS district level, the complainant may be brought to the OSDE. Complaints made under this process must be made in writing and signed by the complainant. The following steps are to be taken:

STEP ONE:

Address the complaint to the State Homeless Coordinator, Oklahoma State Department of Education, 2500 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73105. Include in the complaint:

•      a detailed description of the dispute

•      the name(s) and age(s) of the children involved

•      the name(s) of involved school district personnel and the district(s) they represent

•      a description of attempts that were made to resolve the issue at the school district level

STEP TWO:

The Team Leader of the Office of Grants Planning will inform the involved schools district(s) of the complaint. The team leader or team leader’s designee will gather needed information including documentation and statements of the parties and may conduct an independent investigation through an on-site visit if necessary.

STEP THREE:

Within thirty (30) days after receiving a complaint and investigating the complaint, the team leader will make a determination regarding the allegations on the complaint and will inform the parties, in writing, of the decision. The parties may mutually agree on an extension; however, every effort should be made to resolve the complaint in the shortest possible time.

STEP FOUR:

If a complainant disagrees with the decision, the complainant may within ten (10) working days, appeal the decision to the Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This appeal must be in writing and state the reasons why the complainant disagrees with the decision.

STEP FIVE:

Within thirty (30) days after receiving the appeal, the Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction will render a final decision and notify the complainant and all other interested parties in writing. Although the standard procedure allows thirty (30) days for a response, every effort will be made to resolve the complaint in the shortest possible time.

STEP SIX:

While the dispute is ongoing, the child(ren) in question must be enrolled in and attending school. If the dispute revolves around which school is the school of best interest for the child, the child shall remain in the school they currently attend until the dispute is resolved, unless arrangements already implemented allow the child to attend the school of origin.