Which type of student is considered an exception to the residency requirements for school enrollment in Missouri?

In Missouri, a student who is homeless is considered an exception to the residency requirements for school enrollment. This recognition is grounded in federal law and state policies aimed at ensuring educational access for all children, regardless of their living situation.

Homelessness can create significant barriers to education, as it may cause instability in residence and disrupt a student's ability to attend school regularly. To mitigate this issue, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides that children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to attend school in the district where they are currently residing, regardless of their previous school or district of residence. This law ensures that homeless students can maintain educational continuity and access support services, helping to reduce the impact that their living conditions may have on their education.

In contrast, the other mentioned scenarios, while potentially significant, do not typically create allowances under the same legal framework for exceptions to residency requirements. For example, living with relatives may still necessitate meeting standard residency criteria, and students with disabilities are protected under different legislation, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, but those protections do not inherently exempt them from residency rules. Similarly, students residing in another state would generally not qualify under Missouri’s residency requirements unless they establish residency in the state.