Frequently Asked Questions

"STLS" stands for Students in Temporary Living Situations and is the name of the Chicago Board's department that provides support and services to children and youths enrolled in a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) school and are experiencing housing instability. The STLS Department is headquartered at CPS main office, at 42 W Madison. STLS Citywide Coordinators may be located at other CPS offices throughout the City. The STLS Department ensures schools and school-based staff have the knowledge, training and resources necessary to enforce the educational rights of students in temporary living situations. They are also available to assist and advocate for families in need of additional support or resources. Students and families should feel free to contact the STLS department (773) 553-2242 (phone), (773) 553-2182 (fax) or email at STLSInformation@cps.edu with any questions or concerns.

Students in many different situations are eligible for services through STLS. If a student lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence then he or she is eligible for STLS services. This includes students who are:

sharing housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason
living in emergency or transitional shelters
living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate housing
abandoned in hospitals
living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar setting
migratory students in any of the above situations
youth not in the custody of a parent or a guardian (unaccompanied youth), of any age, in any of the above situations

Each Chicago Public School, including charter schools, has an STLS Liaison. If you or someone you know may be eligible for STLS services, be sure to ask to speak with your school's STLS Liaison. In order to receive STLS services, the school's STLS Liaison must know about your living situation and will ask questions to determine your child’s eligibility for the program. You have the right to be treated with dignity and can expect your personal information to remain private. If no STLS Liaison is available at the time you seek to enroll, other school staff will be available to enroll your student. An unaccompanied youth in a temporary living situation may enroll him/herself in school or be enrolled by an adult caregiver who is not their legal guardian. You are required to complete the STLS Service Initiation form to receive STLS services. Your school’s STLS Liaison will help you complete this form.

A student in a temporary living situation has a right to choose to enroll at:

the school – whether traditional, charter, selective enrollment, military, magnet or contract - he/she attended upon becoming homeless (school of origin)
the last school – whether traditional, charter, selective enrollment, military, magnet or contract - at which he/she was enrolled (school of origin)
the attendance area school for the area in which the STLS student resides

Staying in the school of origin contributes to educational and emotional stability for most students and is encouraged if it is in the best interest of the student.

If your child is aged 3 but not 5 by September 1st and eligible for the STLS program, upon submitting a Chicago Early Learning application, he/she will be placed in an appropriate and available CPS school. Click here for information on preschool programs and to access the Chicago Early Learning application. You can also contact the Chicago Early Learning hotline for help with completing an application or for other assistance at (312) 229-1690. Your STLS eligible preschooler may also be eligible for transportation through the STLS program. You and your child will receive CTA Ventra cards if eligible. Click here for more transportation information.

On-time attendance to school on the first day, and each and every school day is very important for every student to succeed. For this reason, students in a temporary living situation will be immediately enrolled and have a right to full participation in school activities, even without proof of address, proof of immunization, transcripts, or any other documents.

Students enrolled in the STLS program have the right to continue attending the school of origin for as long as they lack permanent housing or, if they become permanently housed, until the end of the academic year in which housing is acquired. High school students who become permanently housed in another CPS school's attendance area may remain in their school of origin until graduation if they desire to do so, provided the distance factor does not adversely influence the students' safety, attendance or academic progress.

Yes. Documentation typically required for a student to enroll in school, such as birth certificates, transcripts, health records, proof of residency, etc. are not required for STLS-eligible students to enroll in school. Once enrolled the STLS Liaison or other school staff will assist you with getting this documentation. People born in Cook County or elsewhere in the state of Illinois who are homeless can receive a birth certificate for free. Your school’s STLS Liaison can provide the paperwork necessary to get a free birth certificate for an STLS-eligible student.

If you choose to continue your child’s education in his/her school of origin, the Chicago Board will provide transportation to and from the school of origin and school-related activities as long as your child is in a temporary living situation, or if he/she becomes permanently housed, until the end of the academic year. Requests for transportation services should be made to the STLS Liaison at your child’s school or by calling the STLS Department at 773-553-2242. Not every STLS-eligible student qualifies for STLS transportation.

There are two forms of transportation generally available to STLS-eligible students - CTA and the yellow school bus. For preschool age children through 6th grade, both the student and his/her parent or caregiver transporting the STLS-eligible student will be provided with CTA Ventra cards. From 7th grade through high school, students only will be given CTA Ventra cards. If a parent/caregiver of a child in 6th grade or below is unable to accompany the STLS-eligible child to school using CTA for reasons of "hardship," such as having to transport more than one child to differing school locations, having to work or attend employment training, court-ordered services or treatment, inability due to a disabling condition, being required by your shelter program to participate in services at the same time or for "other good cause," you may apply for "hardship" transportation. STLS "hardship" transportation will provide a school bus that will pick your student up from a school site near your current place of residence, bring them to their school, and then drop them off at this school site after school. If you think you may qualify for STLS "hardship" transportation, speak to your STLS Liaison about applying as soon as possible. Applications require parents/caregivers to submit documentation of their hardship such as employment verification, a note from a medical provider, a school schedule, etc. CTA Ventra cards will be provided pending approval of the hardship application and the bus can be arranged. Routing of a school bus typically takes 7-10 days.

For the CTA, students are typically given CTA Ventra cards which are worth 2 fares and 2 transfers during the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. only. If the card is used outside of those hours, then it cannot be used again. It is, therefore, very important that your student understand this. If he/she needs more fares to come and go to student related activities outside of those hours, the school will arrange for additional fare cards. To ensure daily attendance, some students may receive fare cards only on a daily, rather than weekly basis.

More information about STLS transportation eligibility and processes is available here.

Yes. Students who are eligible for STLS services can apply to charter schools, selective enrollment schools, magnet schools, and all other CPS programs in the same manner as all other students. If you need assistance in the application process, ask the STLS Liaison at your child’s school to help you complete the GoCPS application (go.cps.edu) or other forms that may be required.

Students who are eligible for STLS services have the right to try-out and/or sign-up for sports teams in the same manner as all other students. Fees for participation in sports programs, including uniforms and equipment, can be waived. Students who qualify for transportation through the STLS program can receive supplemental transportation assistance as needed to accommodate participation in athletic events.

Students in temporary living situations qualify to have fees for participation in many school activities and the use of school property waived, including overdue fees. This includes, for example, fees for textbooks, participation in field trips and extracurricular activities, instructional fees, uniforms, lockers, graduation fees, and school records.

Upon request, students in temporary living situations will receive items necessary for their participation in school such as uniforms, school supplies, and other items. Please notify your school’s STLS Liaison if your student needs these items. If lack of clothing, shoes or school supplies is keeping you from enrolling your child in school, please seek assistance at the nearest school or contact the STLS Department at 773-553-2242.

Attendance at school each day is critical to a child's learning. Daily attendance is a stronger indicator of student success than high test scores. Your child's school should welcome your participation as a parent and your involvement with your child's education. It is especially important during a period of housing instability to make sure your child can get to school. If there are health issues, conflict with other students or adults at school, child care problems, transportation problems, or a family crisis that interferes with a student's attendance, please request help from the STLS Liaison or other appropriate person at your child's school. Be sure to talk with your child to understand what might affect his/her willingness to attend school. Every school is required to have a program to help families and youth who need it address issues of non-attendance. School staff are dedicated to making sure students are made to feel welcome.

Yes. Your nephew (or any student in a similar situation) would be considered a student in a temporary living situation and should be enrolled immediately even if you cannot provide documentation of guardianship. Remember, he has the right to return to his school of origin. Staying in the school of origin contributes to educational and emotional stability for most students.

When a school official denies a student in a temporary living situation access to STLS services, school enrollment or transportation to the school of origin, the parent or student may file a dispute with the CPS STLS Department. The STLS Department will attempt to resolve the dispute in a timely manner through the STLS dispute resolution process.

Every Chicago Public School, including charter schools, has an STLS Liaison who will assist you in completing the dispute resolution forms and refer you to low-cost legal assistance if necessary. If the family or student disagrees with the Board of Education of the City of Chicago’s decision, then an appeal may be made to an Ombudsperson appointed by the Illinois State Board of Education who will issue a written decision. If the family or student disagrees with the decision of the Ombudsperson, then an appeal may be made to the Illinois State Board of Education’s Homeless Education Coordinator who will review the Ombudsperson’s decision for compliance with applicable law and submit a recommendation to the Superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education. At any time during the process, a parent, guardian, caregiver, or unaccompanied youth may seek the support or advice of attorneys, advocates, or the Illinois State Board of Education Homeless Education Program. While the dispute and/or appeal process are taking place, the student has the right to enroll and receive transportation.

For more information or assistance,
call Chicago Public Schools Students in Temporary Living Situations (773) 553-2242.

Find answers to common questions about STLS students.