Compliance Trainingfor

Registrars and Others Who Enroll Students

Kids Without Homes:A School District

Responds

Contact Information

• Name:

• Office Phone:

• Other Phone:

• Email:

Homeless Education Liaison

Federal Law

defines and protects the rights of homeless students to enroll in, attend, and succeed in our public schools

The McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act

Overview

Effects of poverty and homelessness Compliance with federal and state

enrollment provisions Importance of educational stability

for homeless students Title I and free school meals Ways to assist homeless students

Major Topics

The McKinney-Vento Act

Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are homeless

The McKinney-Vento Act

When families “double up” because one family is experiencing loss of housing or economic hardship, the family is considered homeless

Families living “doubled up”

The McKinney-Vento Act

• Children in migratory families

• Children with parent(s) servingabroad in the military

• Unaccompanied youth not livingwith a parent or legal guardian

Special Considerations

The McKinney-Vento Act

but none of those places qualifies

as a “fixed, regular, and adequate”

nighttime residence

Students without homes . . .

live in all kinds of places . . .

• Common problems

• Effects of poverty and homelessness

• Educational needs

• Emotional and social difficulties

Life is difficult for our homeless students

Increasing Awareness

The McKinney-Vento Act

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act says that children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are homeless

What you must know about the law:

The McKinney-Vento Act

• School of Origin

Educational Stability

• Transportation

• Cooperation and collaboration

• Removal of any barrier toimmediate enrollment

The McKinney-Vento Act

• No documents required

Immediate Access

• Assistance of homeless liaisonin obtaining immunizationsand/or medical records

• Written explanation of decisionin dispute resolutions

Texas Education Code

specifies that a student who is homeless is entitled to admission in any Texas school district

Chapter 25 of the Texas Education Code

Federal Law

defines and protects the rights of homeless students to enroll in, attend, and succeed in our public schools

The McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act

Managing Attendance Records

Student Attendance

Accounting Handbook

• Bona-fide effort

• Timely records

• Withdrawals from district

Increasing Awareness

• at the time of enrollment

• after a student is enrolledand attending classes

Know the possible signsof homelessness . . .

Routine inquiries about residency help determine which students might be eligible for assistance because they meet the legal definition of homelessness

Student Residency Questionnaire

Obtaining Student Data

Obtaining Student Data

• Proof of residency• Birth data• School records• Health records and immunizations

Acceptable Documentsafter Enrollment

Obtaining Student Data

• Application can be used onlyin certain circumstances forstudents born in Texas

• Send application to the Bureauof Vital Statistics at the TexasDepartment of Health

Application for BVS Certificate for School Admission

Choice of Schools

• School of origin . . .if it is requested andfeasible

-- or --• School of residency

Which school is in a student’s best interest?

Homeless Education Liaison

• you identify a student whoneeds homeless services

Contact me when . . .

• assistance is needed withimmunizations and/or medicalrecords

• choice of schools requiresdispute resolution

Making a Difference

• at the time of enrollment

• when a student is leavingyour school

• when communicating withhomeless students and theirfamilies

Ways Can Assist Our Students in Homeless Situations

You

Contact Information

• Name:

• Office Phone:

• Other Phone:

• Email:

Homeless Education Liaison