Homeless Mom's Case Could Change Law

The case of a homeless mother accused of stealing her son's education could end up changing state law in Connecticut.

Democrats and Republicans are discussing new legislation related to the arrest of Tonya McDowell, the Stamford Advocate reports.

McDowell was charged with larceny in April after registering her son at a school in Norwalk in September 2010. She used a babysitter's address.

At the time, McDowell said, she was living in a van, sleeping at a Norwalk shelter or staying at a friend's Bridgeport apartment. The case captured national attention and more than 19,000 signatures are on an online petition to stop the court case.

State Rep. Bruce Morris, D-Norwalk, wants to change the law so a case like McDowell's is not prosecuted as a felony, the Advocate reports. Instead, it would be a civil matter for the local school boards.

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http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Homeless-Moms-Case-Could-Change-Law-122934588.html

that there were state laws requiring school age children to go to school.

Under NCLB Title X, the educational rights of homeless children and youth are protected by the federal
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program. The
law requires that state education agencies and school districts ensure that young people in homeless
situations have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public
preschools, as provided to other children and youth (McKinney-Vento Act, Subtitle VII-B, Section 721
<1>).



Seems to me this should apply