an orientation to

An Orientation to

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education

Fall 2014

Agenda Introductions & Ground Rules McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance

The Law Who’s Homeless Educational Rights of Homeless Children and Youth Role of the Homeless Liaison

Break Homelessness in Massachusetts Best Practices Hot topics Questions

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, 2002

Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance

No Child Left Behind

So why do we even have this law?

Homelessness is a journey -not an overnight event – that has enormous

impact on children.


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Why McKinney-Vento?

Homelessness effects Whole family, Attendance, The ability to focus and learn, Educational gaps due to high mobility, and Behavior.

Homelessness is often accompanied with Food insecurity Lack of medical, dental, and mental health

services Loss of connection to family, friends, community


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The Law Definition, Who is Homeless? Educational Rights of Students Who are

Homeless School Selection & Enrollment Transportation Nutrition Equal Access & Comparable Services Title I See ESE Homeless Education Advisories on

webpage

Role of the Homeless LiaisonMassachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Definition: Who is Homeless?

Anyone who lacks fixed regular and adequate nighttime residence.

This includes: Shelters and motels On the street: cars, parks, … Doubling up due to Economic hardship, loss

of housing or similar reason Unaccompanied youth Awaiting foster care


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Homeless? Case Study

Mary arrives at the Parent Information Center to enroll her second grader. She explains that she has just arrived in town and is living with her mother. She cannot prove residency and is unwilling to show you a lease.

Is she housed? Or homeless?


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Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless

School Selection & Enrollment School of Origin

School/District last attended School attended when student became homeless

Immediate Enrollment Locally With or Without Documentation Unaccompanied Youth


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Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless Student Records

Transportation Shared Responsibility Special Education

Nutrition Free Lunch and Breakfast Paperwork Food Insecurity


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Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless Equal Access & Comparable Services

School Courses, Events, Activities Student Support Services Preschool Charter Schools, Vocational Schools, school

choice

Title I School-wide & Targeted Programs Addressing the unique needs of homeless

studentsMassachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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The Role of the Homeless Education Liaison Identification

Building Awareness is Key Professional Development and Training School committee

Transportation Communicating with your counterparts


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The Role of the Homeless Education Liaison Facilitate Enrollment & Dispute

Resolution Process

Ensure Equal Access & Comparable Services

Referral to Outside Services


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The Role of the Homeless Education Liaison

Data Collection Tracking for internal purposes

1. Support services2. Transportation reimbursement

Annual ESE data collection1. Students that are enrolled with you2. Enter - do not delete


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The Role of the Homeless Education Liaison ESE contact

Current list of homeless liaisons on the ESE website.

Monitoring and Compliance


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Journey Through Homelessness Case Study Tommy, a first grader, has made several

trips to the school nurse’s office in the past month with vague complaints of not feeling good. Mom recently mentioned that her work hours were cut and the family is struggling. Today Tommy fell asleep in the nurse’s office saying they can’t sleep at home anymore.

What is going on? Could she be homeless? What can the nurse do? What can you do?


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Homelessness in Massachusetts 2013/14 School Year By the Numbers

Shelters 4,125 Motels 3,653 Doubled up 6,813 Unaccompanied 894 Unsheltered 104 Awaiting Foster Care 2,006

Total 17,595


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Homelessness in Massachusetts State Shelter system

• Family Shelters• Motels• Unaccompanied Youth & Adult Shelters• Moving out of Shelter & Signing a Lease• Enrollment Verification Letter

Doubling up• Living with friends or relatives due to

economic hardship, loss of housing and similar reason


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Homelessness in Massachusetts

Summer Campgrounds & Winter Rentals

Couch surfing & unaccompanied youth

Department of Children and Families• STARR• TCU• Temporary foster care and foster care


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Best Practices Policy

Template at MASC.org ESE summary page Sample District Policies

Enrollment Do your enrollment forms cite McKinney-Vento or

families in transition? Identification, the key is training.

Who: enrollment staff, guidance, principals, nurses

DVDs Awareness building: school committee,

communityMassachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Best Practices Student Support Services

Collaboration with Title 1, sped, ELL, … 21st Century, Afterschool/Out of School,…

Community Based Services and Outreach Medical, mental, and dental health Food Pantries & Clothing Banks Local transportation Local housing advocates Local enrichment opportunities

Public Libraries Municipal Parks and Recreation YM/WCAs, Boys and Girls, Out of School Time Providers


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Looking for more information?

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

naehcy.org/

National Center for Homeless EducationNCHE, serve.org

National Runaway Safeline1800runaway.org

Massachusetts Coalition for the Homelessmahomeless.org

MHSA Young Adult Resource GuideMHSA.net, click on Resources


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Is your contact information up to date?

Your District’s Contact Verify your contact information on the ESE

website Including name, email, phone and extension;

Update is done by the District’s Directory Administrator – not by ESE;

Parents, providers and other state agencies reference this list; and

This is how we reach you.


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We are Glad to Help…

Office for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

Website http://www.doe.mass.edu/mv/ [email protected] 781-338-6315

Sarah Slautterback, State Coordinator 781-338-6330 [email protected]

Elizabeth Harris, Student Support781-338-6310 [email protected]


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http://www.doe.mass.edu/mv/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

an orientation to

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