The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Homeless--This term has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 United States Code (USC), §11434a.
2. (2) Homeless liaison--A person designated by a school district or an open-enrollment charter school pursuant to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 USC, §11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), to ensure homeless children and youth are identified and enrolled, with a full and equal opportunity to succeed, in schools.
3. (3) Substitute care--The placement of a child who is in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in care outside the child's home. The term includes foster care, institutional care, pre-adoptive homes, placement with a relative of the child, or commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department under Texas Family Code, §263.001(a)(4).
4. (4) Foster care liaison--The individual each local educational agency appoints to act as a liaison to facilitate enrollment or transfer of a child who is in conservatorship of the state, pursuant to Texas Education Code, §33.904.
5. (5) Foster care--Twenty-four-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom DFPS has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, childcare institutions, and pre-adoptive homes.
6. (6) Educational decision-maker--A person designated by DFPS or a court to make education decisions on behalf of youth in substitute care.
7. (7) Enrollment conference--A student-centered meeting for a newly enrolled student to identify academic and extracurricular interests; introduce school processes and opportunities for engagement; develop course and instructional strategies; review credits and assessment information; determine social-emotional support; and communicate confidential information that may impact a student's success, if needed.
8. (8) Records--Documents in printed or electronic form that include, but are not limited to, student transcripts; individual course grades; academic achievement records; course credits, whether full or partial; individualized education program referrals; intervention data; immunizations; state assessment scores; student attendance data; disciplinary reports; graduation endorsements; special education/Section 504 committee records; performance acknowledgements; and personal graduation plans.

Source Note:The provisions of this §89.1601 adopted to be effective March 30, 2020, 45 TexReg 2159.