Best Practices Serving Homeless Students

Best Practices for Serving Homeless Students2014 ESEA ODYSSEY CONFERENCEDona Bolt, State CoordinatorOregon Department of EducationOverview:McKinney-Vento BasicsTitle I-A Supports

Funding: General and Supplemental

Data: Results of District Counts

Best Practices: Discussion

Tips and Trade Secrets: Discussion

Workshop ContentMcKinney-Vento Act requires every district toDesignate an active Homeless LiaisonParticipate in Annual Homeless Student Counts, PK-12Have staff trained in MV requirements, definitionsRevise policies to address barriers to successProvide immediate enrollment to homeless studentsProvide school of origin transportationEnsure access to programs, including Head StartProvide Dispute Resolution to resolve issues Assist homeless students to obtain immunizationsObtain and transfer school records

MV Requirements: OverviewTitle I-A requires all district recipients to:Deem all homeless students eligible for Title I-A servicesReserve funds to provide Title I-A services to homeless students who do not attend Title I-A participating schools

Title I-A: optional use of set-asidesProvide services not available with other funds (examples on next slide)Provide additional services to homeless students attending Title I-A schoolsSupport salary and work of Homeless LiaisonProvide School-of-Origin Transportation

Title I-A: OverviewTitle I-A: OverviewDistricts also may use Title I-A funds for:

Student fees necessary to participate in the regular education program (e.g., for cost of materials)Personal school supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, writing and math toolsObtaining student birth certificatesFood, mealsUrgent medical or dental careVision exams, glasses

5Funding: Supplemental Sundae

Awards based on quality of application:

Needs assessmentTypes, intensity and coordination of servicesInvolvement of parents and guardiansExtent homeless students are integratedEvaluation planCoordination with other available servicesSupplemental Funds: McKinney-Vento Competitive SubgrantsNext MV Subgrant RoundSpring 2015 - 6 week grant writing period

Two-year Subgrants: for individual school districts and Consortia of multiple districts

Each Consortium must have one fiscal agent: a district or an Education Service District (ESD)

Approx. $480,000 available statewide with subgrants ranging $10,000 to $60,000

Malheur Co. District DataMultnomah Co. DistrictsK-12 Homeless StudentsSY 2010-2014

Clackamas Co. DistrictsK-12 Homeless StudentsSY 2010-2014Washington Co. DistrictsK-12 Homeless Students SY 2010-20142013-14 Highest District CountsK-12 Homeless Students

What can district administrators do to support district Homeless Liaisons?

Best PracticesHow can Liaisons help administrators support the program?

Best PracticesHow do you identify homeless children and youth in your district?Preschool and YoungerChildren in Homeless FamiliesUnaccompanied Homeless Youths

Tips and Trade SecretsAnnual Data CollectionEnrollment FormsDatabases & SpreadsheetsTime Management (Deadline: June 30)Head Start DataEarly Childhood Program DataUnenrolled Homeless Children & Youth

Tips and Trade SecretsTraining

At district level, by Liaisons

Training for Liaisons- Online - Regional Liaison Events- State and National Conferences Tips and Trade SecretsCollaboration

Head Start ProgramsEarly Childhood ServicesHomeless Service Providers

Tips and Trade SecretsCommunication

Regular Local Liaison meetingsOregon MVA ListservDistrict & Community NewslettersAwareness Events

Tips and Trade SecretsDona Bolt, State CoordinatorMcKinney-Vento ProgramOregon Department of Educationdona.bolt@state.or.us(503) 947-5781

For more information:Thanks for coming, everyone!