Answer: SEAs and LEAs must “review and revise policies to remove barriers to the identification of homeless children and youths, and the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youths…” 42 USC §11432(g)(1)(I). Sometimes, withdrawing from school is a step in the process to enroll in a new school. Therefore, the ability to withdraw is important, and LEAs must ensure there are not barriers to withdrawal. The McKinney-Vento Act would require that there be a way for an unaccompanied youth to withdraw from school; however, the district can determine the elements of that process. Depending on the circumstances, allowing the youth do withdraw directly probably is the easiest process, and also makes the most sense when district policy also allows unaccompanied youth to enroll themselves.
It also would be important to keep in mind whatever your state laws are for compulsory attendance, so that you are providing comparable treatment to unaccompanied youth. For example, if the youth is within the age for compulsory attendance, what would be the process if a parent was withdrawing the youth, in terms of following up on subsequent enrollment and truancy? The district should have comparable policies for unaccompanied youth.