The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Policy Committee is recommending person-first language throughout a district policy dealing with students who lack stable housing, responding to a school board vote that sent the item back to the committee.

At the board’s last meeting, Sarah Parks Reese questioned why the committee had proposed changing the policy’s title from “Homeless Students” to “Children Experiencing Homelessness” while leaving the older phrasing in place inside the policy. She moved to return the item so members could consider whether the body of the policy should change as well. The board voted 5-2 to do that, with Ben Orr and Board President Tiffany Pascoe voting no. The committee is made up of two board members, Dawn Lang and Juanita Albright.

The recommended version of Policy J07.10 now uses “children experiencing homelessness” in places where “homeless students” appeared. It says the district will work with children experiencing homelessness and their families to provide stability in school attendance, that special attention will be given to the enrollment and attendance of children experiencing homelessness not currently attending school, and that safeguards will protect children experiencing homelessness from discrimination. The definition section is reworded the same way, and the district’s required liaison position becomes the Liaison for Children Experiencing Homelessness.

The substance of the policy is not changing. The list of living situations covered — shared housing due to loss of housing or economic hardship, motels and campgrounds, shelters, cars, parks, abandoned buildings, transportation stations, unaccompanied youth and migratory children — stays the same, as does the requirement to name a liaison.

At the previous meeting, Orr, reading from a prepared statement, argued the person-first phrasing is tied to national advocacy organizations he said carry a political agenda, and called “Homeless Children” a “fine description.” Latrica Schooley said arguing over terminology was not a productive place for the board to be, but added that words matter, particularly when the students involved have experienced trauma.

Both phrasings appear in official use. The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act uses the statutory term “homeless children and youths,” while person-first constructions are common in state guidance and district policy. Indiana districts must designate a liaison under the federal law regardless of the term the policy uses.

The committee is also recommending a change to the district’s policy on pregnant students, striking the words “whether married or unmarried.” The sentence would then say a student’s participation in HSE educational programs will not be restricted because that student is pregnant. The rest of that policy is unchanged, including language saying modifications from regular classes will be based on the assessed needs of the student, that the school may request medical verification of her ability to continue in classes, and that the superintendent or designee will maintain a procedure covering nursing and counseling staff guidance on pregnancy-related health and social services.

Both recommendations go to the full board for a vote at its September 9 meeting.