connecting with the mckinney-vento act: school districts & the pennsylvania education for...
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Connecting with the McKinney-Vento Act:School Districts & the Pennsylvania Education for Children &Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program
“. . .through it all, school is the only thing that has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in those doors, I can stop thinking about my problems.” Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, formerly homeless student, 2002
McKinney-Vento Federal Act:A law to protect homeless children through educational stability.
Homeless. . . What do you think of?
40% of all homeless in the United States, and the fastest
growing population are women, children, and families 65% of the families are women with children
20%-40% were experiencing sexual abuse 40%-60% were experiencing physical abuse
The True Face of Homelessness
Did you know?
Program funds and guidance are provided by the McKinney-Vento Act, originally passed in 1987.
Each of the school districts in the state has a Homeless Liaison to serve their homeless students.
The average age of a homeless individual in the United States is 9 years.
Eligibility – Who is Homeless? Children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate
nighttime residence – Sharing housing of others due to loss of housing,
economic hardship, or similar reason (“Doubled up”) Living in motels, hotels, trailers, camping grounds,
tents, barns, cars, abandoned buildings, etc. due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations
Living in emergency or transitional shelters Abandoned, throw-away, runaway children not living
with a parent or legal guardian Migratory children living in above circumstances Awaiting Foster Care placement
Definition: “Awaiting Foster Care” Children and youth “awaiting foster care”
placement include those who are placed in shelters, emergency foster care, transitional foster care of respite care.
These placement settings are intended to be short term, and do not typically last longer than 30 days.
Individual circumstances may, at times, require a longer length of stay.
Are there people living in shelters HERE? There are approximately 250 Shelters in Pennsylvania
servicing Homeless Families and Youth. The shelters may be:
Domestic violence, victims are predominately women and their children (residency is 30 days)
Homeless couples, families, singles (18 and over) Runaway and throwaway teens (residency is usually 2
weeks) Pregnant and parenting teens Bridge or Transitional housing for single parents are
their children (residency is 18 to 24 months) Hotel/Motel stays (usually 2 – 3 days in duration)
Homeless Students Not Residing in a Shelter, Facility or Institution Children who experience homelessness are often highly mobile
and may not stay in the same school district each night or each week.
These children should not be forced to change school districts every time their overnight accommodations change.
These students are entitled to attend school in any school district where a parent, guardian, adult caring for them or where an unaccompanied child: Spends the greatest percentage of his or her time OR Has a substantial connection such as where he or she is
Regularly receiving day shelter or other services Conducting daily living activities Staying overnight on a recurring basis
How Schools Determine Homelessness: Was there an event?
Flood Fire Mold Domestic Violence Thrown Out Eviction Runaway
Or. . .is it Substandard Housing?
Legal Definition:“fixed, regular, adequate”
Substandard Housing?• No utilities (heat, water, etc.)• Tarp over roof• Boards on windows• Overcrowded• Dirt Floor• Holes to outside• Motel• Hotel• Camper• Tent• Car
The Effects of Substandard Housing on Children: One out of every 3 people living in severely substandard housing
is a child. These children are likely to experience: Violence Hunger Injuries Burns Infectious Diseases Asthma Lead Poisoning Foster Care Placement Falling Behind in School Dropping out of School
From Housing Arkansas “Benefits of a State Housing Trust Fund” - 2010
Other effects of Sub-Standard Housing: Depression Anxiety Social Isolation
The longer people live in poor housing, the more it affects their mental and physical health!
Examples:
Old, dirty, mildewed carpet: Allergic, respiratory, nerve & blood-related illnesses.
Pest infestations: Asthma, allergies. Poorly functioning heaters/stoves: Increased levels
of nitrogen dioxide (asthma), carbon monoxide (headache, fatigue, poisoning)
Lead paint: Brain damage, high blood pressure. Noise: Irritability, sleeplessness, feelings of
helplessness. Housing & Health “Substandard Housing,” 2010
Is the situation temporary?
• Has the family tried to access other services to find housing?
• Do they talk about wanting “a place of their own”
• Do the children have their own bedrooms?
• Can the family afford other housing, but are choosing not to move?
Rural Vs. Urban:
Urban: More people living in shelters and
transitional housing Transient populations (families will
move in and out of locations) More single adults Homelessness is a more “visible”
issue – people sometimes on the streets
Open to & often seeking services More resources and funding
available
Rural: Living in cars, parks, campgrounds,
barns, tents, hunting cabins; run down homes often without running water or heat, windows are gone, roof covered with tarps; doubled-up with other families
Stable populations (do not move as frequently)
More families Homeless is a “hidden” issue –
people are under a roof Less likely to accept or seek our
services Fewer resources available
Patterns of
Homelessness: Temporary: When people are displaced from their usual dwellings by fire, eviction, divorce, etc.
Episodic: Those who frequently experience periods of being housed and then homeless.
Chronic: Without a home for more than a year. More likely to suffer from mental illness and substance abuse then other classes of homeless people (Bassuk et al. 1986; Fischer and Breakey, 1988).
Key Provisions- Schools
Students can stay in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing.
If a student becomes homeless in between academic years (i.e. during the summer months), he or she may continue in the school or origin the following academic year.
Key Provisions- Transportation Schools will (when deemed reasonable, feasible and in
the child’s “best interests”) provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to and from their school or origin, at a parent’s or guardian's request (or at the liaisons request for unaccompanied youth).
The transportation mandate is for homeless students only. Once a student becomes permanently housed and chooses to remain in their school of origin, it is at the district’s discretion to continue to provide or arrange transportation, as appropriate. The district is under no statutory obligation.
Key Provisions- Enrollment
Children and youth in homeless situations can stay in their school or origin (to extent feasible) or enroll in the public school that the student is living.
The terms “enroll” and “enrollment” include attending classes and participating fully in school activities.
Enrollment- continued
Children can be enrolled immediately, even without school records, medical records, proof of residency or other documents.
If a student does not have immunization or medical records, the liaison must immediately assist in obtaining them. The student will be enrolled without them.
Title I
Schools are now required to have a portion of Title I funds set aside for the needs of homeless students. Every student that is homeless is able to have these funds used for them.
Title I funds can be used for medical expenses, clothing/uniform purchase, tutoring, enrichment, etc.
Food & Nutrition
All children who are identified as Homeless by the District Liaison are immediately entitled to receive free meals!
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) Pennsylvania has developed a plan to assign
a surrogate parent to each handicapped student who is either a ward of the state or whose parent or guardian is unknown or unavailable.
This includes “unaccompanied homeless youth!”
A Note on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Schools cannot require that a family who “takes in” a student
obtain guardianship. Guardianship can only come from a judge. Students can sign paperwork themselves, the adult they live with
can complete a “Caregiver’s Authorization Form” in order to sign for them, or the District Liaison can sign in lieu of these options.
Many children under the age of 18 who lives with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian falls under this definition. Children over the age of 18 who have been “kicked out” of their home, or left due to safety reasons will also meet this definition.
Unaccompanied homeless youth can apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to attend college without a parent/guardian signature!
Preschool-Aged Children and McKinney Vento Federal Law: District Liaisons must ensure that families
and children have access to Head Start, Even Start and other public preschool programs administered by the LEA.
Head Start Act: 101
McKinney-Vento applies to preschool programs operated by LEAs and SEAs Homeless Children are Categorically Eligible, even if income exceeds guidelines. Transportation may be provided if other children in the program receive it (applies to LEA and SEA administered Head Start and other pre-K programs only)
Dispute Resolution
Levels: Local Level – School District Liaison (20 days, written disposition) McKinney-Vento Coordinator Level (20 days, written disposition) State Coordinator Court of Competent Jurisdiction (participation in appeal
procedure is not required prior to taking legal action) Any form of communication can be viewed as a complaint Child or youth must immediately be admitted to the school in
which he/she is seeking enrollment, pending resolution of the dispute
District Liaisons need to follow procedure as outlined, including providing the dispute resolution process (see attachments to current Basic Education Circular)
How Can the PA ECYEH Program Help? Assist with school enrollment and placement Provide referrals for clothing, food, shelter, rent,
medical services, preschool, housing, advocacy, counseling, etc
Provide technical assistance to districts Implement tutoring and enrichment services in
shelters and other settings Distributing literature related to homeless children Providing training and in-service related to the
McKinney-Vento Federal Act Assist students with obtaining clothing, school
supplies, fees, etc
ResourcesResources
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth -http://www.naehcy.org
National Center on Homeless Education -http://www.serve.org/nche
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty -http://www.nlchp.org
Horizons for Homeless Children -http://www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org
Pennsylvania’s Homeless Children’s Initiative –Pennsylvania’s Homeless Children’s Initiative –http://homeless.center-school.org/index.cfmhttp://homeless.center-school.org/index.cfm
Pennsylvania Department of Education –Pennsylvania Department of Education –http://www.pde.state.pa.us/http://www.pde.state.pa.us/
Center for Schools and Communities – Center for Schools and Communities – http://www.center-school.org/http://www.center-school.org/
For Assistance Contact:
Wendy KinnearRegional Coordinator, Region 5
Pennsylvania’s Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (ECYEH)Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV
453 Maple Street Grove City, PA 16127724.458.6700 X 1289Fax: 724.458.5083
“The only thing poverty does is grind down your nerve endings to a point that you can work harder and stoop lower than most people are willing to. It chips away a person’s dreams to the point that the hopelessness shows through, and the dreamer accepts that hard work and borrowed houses are all this life will ever be.” - Rick Bragg, All Over but the Shoutin’