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RESOURCES

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My Brother's Keeper

On September 21, 2016, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano accepted President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Community Challenge on behalf of the City of Yonkers.

The Yonkers MBK program is introducing a series of initiatives and coalescing community support through a Stakeholders Summit on April 1, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at Lincoln High School, 375 Kneeland Avenue, Yonkers, NY.

This invitation-only community information gathering meeting will help shape the Yonkers MBK program, and its Action Plan moving forward.

This collaboration will focus on implementing a “cradle-to-college and career” program with the strongest evidence of improving life outcomes for all young people and ensuring that they can reach their full potential, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or the circumstances into which they are born.

Our focus is to build a community where all residents participate in the success of our youth, particularly Black and Hispanic/Latino boys, girls, young women and young men; to make Yonkers a city where all our youngest of children enter school ready to learn, ready to read at grade level or better by third grade; to build a pipeline that graduates students from high school to a four-year degree or vocational training to successfully enter the workforce; and to be able to raise a family free of violence and with the promise of our country’s greatest hopes.

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District Provided

  • Health Services:

    • Contact the Medical and Nursing Services at (914) 376-8226.​

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  • Homeless Support:

    • The McKinney-Vento Act Covers Children And Youth Who Don't Have A Fixed, Adequate And Regular Nighttime Residence, Such As Those Living:

      • in an emergency or transitional shelter;

      • with friends or relatives due to loss of housing or economic hardship (also known as doubled up);

      • in a motel, hotel or campground;

      • in a car, bus or train station or other public place;

      • in an abandoned building or some other inadequate accommodations; or

      • in temporary situations while awaiting foster care placement.

    • They Can Choose From:

      • the school they went to when permanently housed (known as the school of origin);

      • the last school they went to (also known as the school of origin); or

      • the school located in the attendance area where they are temporarily living (known as the local school).

    • Students In Temporary Housing Have The Right To:

      • immediately enroll in school and attend classes;

      • get free transportation to the school to the local school if transportation is provided to others students;

      • get special education services immediately if the student has a current IEP (even if the IEP itself is not available or if it is from another district);

      • participate in any school activity that is available to other students and get transportation to and from all before-or after-school activities if it is provided to other students; and

      • get free meals without filling out an application.

    • Frequently Asked Questions:

    • Who Can Help Students Living In Temporary Housing? Every school district must appoint a Homeless Liaison to help children and youth in temporary housing participate in school.  The Yonkers Public Schools Homeless Liaison can be reached at (914) 376-8074.

    • Can a Student Living In Temporary Housing Stay In The Same School If He/She Moves Out Of The School District? Yes, the student has the right to attend the school he/she attended when permanently housed as long as he/she does not have to travel more than 50 miles each way.

    • Can A Student Enroll Himself/Herself In School? Sometimes. Youth living in temporary housing and not with their parents or legal guardians (known as unaccompanied youth) can enroll themselves in school.  In such situations school staff should contact the Homeless Liaison for help.

    • What If A School Doesn't Enroll A Student Or Provide Transportation Because The District Doubts He/She Is Homeless? Parents, guardians and unaccompanied youth living in temporary housing have the right to appeal a school’s decision.  The school must immediately enroll the student, give him/her a written explanation of its decision, and refer him/her to the district’s Homeless Liaison for help with the appeal process.  The student has the right to go to school and get transportation to school until a final decision is made. The regulations of the 310 appeal process concerning a Homeless Child or Youth and the forms used to file the appeal may be found on the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of Counsel’s website.

    • If A Student Moves Into Permanent Housing, Can He/She Stay In The Same School? Yes, students who move into permanent housing can stay in the same school until the end of the school year.  Some students can stay one more year if it is the student’s last year in that school (for example, a student entering the 8th or 12th grade).

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  • Bullying:

    • The Yonkers Public Schools is committed to providing an educational and working environment that promotes respect, dignity and equality. The Board recognizes that discrimination, such as harassment, hazing and bullying, are detrimental to student learning and achievement. These behaviors interfere with the mission of the district to educate its students and disrupt the operation of the schools. Such behavior affects not only the students who are its targets but also those individuals who participate and witness such acts.

    • To this end, the Board condemns and strictly prohibits all forms of discrimination, such as harassment, hazing and bullying on school grounds, school buses and at all school-sponsored activities, programs and events. Discrimination, harassment, hazing or bullying that takes place at locations outside of school grounds, such as cyberbullying, which creates or can be reasonably expected to create a material and substantial interference with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school or impinge on the rights of other students are prohibited, and may be subject to disciplinary consequences. (BOE Policy 0115)

    • Any allegation of harassment, intimidation, or bullying will be investigated accordingly.  Students, parents/guardians, staff, and community members are encouraged to alert school personnel and report alleged incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying by doing the following:

    • Students:

    • Talk to your parents/guardians

    • Talk to your teacher, nurse, or school counselor

    • Talk to your principal or assistant principal

    • Talk to any adult in the school setting with whom you feel comfortable

    • Parents/Guardians:

    • Contact your child's teacher, nurse, or school counselor for assistance

    • Contact the your child’s principal or assistant principal if the issue is continues

    • Contact the building Dignity for All Students Act Liaisons (DASA) liaison if the issue remains unresolved

    • Staff:

    • Contact an administrator

    • Contact the Superintendent of Schools

    • Contact the Civil Rights Compliance Officer

    • Whenever possible, go directly to school personnel for an immediate assistance. In addition, you can use this online form to alert school personnel.

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