McKinney-Vento ActMcKinney-Vento Act

Education for Education for Homeless Children Homeless Children and Youth Programand Youth Program

ESEA - Title XESEA - Title X

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Title X Purpose:Title X Purpose:

To ensure homeless students have equal access to the same public education,

including preschool, as is provided other children and youth, and opportunities to meet the same challenging academic

achievement standards.

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Basic Homeless DefinitionBasic Homeless Definition

Homeless individuals and families lack a

fixed, regular and adequate

nighttime residence.

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Homeless Living SituationsHomeless Living Situations

• In Shelters or Transitional Housing

• Doubled-Up/Sharing Housing or ”Couch-Surfing” due to:

– Loss of Housing, Economic Hardship– Other Similar Reason

• Hotel or Motel residence due to lack of funds for stable housing

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““Unsheltered” Living SituationsUnsheltered” Living Situations

• Camping in Cars, Parks, Public Spaces, Abandoned Buildings, Tents, Sheds

• Substandard or Overcrowded Housing

• Other sleeping places not designed for long-term human accommodation

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……and…and…

• Students Awaiting Foster Care Placement

• Migrant Students in homeless living situations

• Unaccompanied Youths– not in the physical custody of a parent or legal

guardian;– abandoned youths

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Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

• A family or youth who is fleeing domestic violence and/or abuse may find themselves in a “homeless” living situation.

• Safety and privacy concerns are important when assisting children, youth and adults in these situations.

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ORS 339.115(7)ORS 339.115(7)OREGON SCHOOL LAWOREGON SCHOOL LAW

A school district shall not exclude from admission a child located in the district:

• solely because the child does not have a fixed place or residence, or

• solely because the child is not under the supervision of a parent, guardian or person in a parental relationship.

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Responsibilities of DistrictsResponsibilities of Districts

• Designate an ACTIVE District Liaison

• Publicize Liaison’s contact information

• Collect and report annual data on homeless students

• Provide school placement dispute resolution services

• Enroll and place homeless students per their BEST EDUCATIONAL INTEREST

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Responsibilities of DistrictsResponsibilities of Districts

• Immediate enrollment and placement (e.g., within 24 hours, even if on an IEP).

• Handle enrollment disputes quickly; student remains at school where they seek enrollment until determination is made.

• Share responsibility & transportation costs with other districts in inter-district cases

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Responsibilities of DistrictsResponsibilities of Districts

• Prohibit segregation or separate instruction of homeless students

• Provide transportation to regular school and extended day programs

• Remove barriers to full participation in regular public school, including sports, field trips, graduation exercises, college and career preparation.

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Title IA Services Required Title IA Services Required • Homeless students are automatically Title I-A

• Title I-A funded districts must reserve a portion to serve homeless students

• Set-asides are used primarily to provide Title I services to homeless students in non-Title I funded schools

• Set-asides may also be used to provide educational services to all homeless students, and/or support the FTE of the Liaison.

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Preschool-Age ChildrenPreschool-Age Children

• Work with public preschools and Head Start programs to prioritize enrollment of homeless children.

• Help public preschools and Head Start programs identify and count homeless children, ages 3-5.

• Refer homeless families with young children ages 0-2 to screening and assessment for Early Intervention/Early Childhood Education.

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Responsibilities of LiaisonsResponsibilities of Liaisons

•Post notices on rights of homeless students

•Provide district staff with awareness training

•Collaborate with local service providers

•Enroll homeless students at their school-of-origin when desired by parents/student and when in the student’s best educational interest

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Once identified….Once identified….

• Provide a copy of MV rights to parents and unaccompanied youths;

• Immediately provide free meals and Title I services to students who need them;

• Provide full access to Pre-K though Gr 12 opportunities, including early intervention, tutoring, supplemental support, credit recovery, college prep.

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Once identified…Once identified…

• Ensure full educational services

• Include parents in education of the child & in district Parental Involvement Activities

• Assist families and youths to obtain needed immunizations and documents such as birth certificates.

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Liaison AssistanceLiaison Assistance

• Referrals to other providers for medical, dental, counseling and other services.

• Enrollment in extended-day, vacation and summer school and meal programs.

• Family literacy programs, where available.

• Clothing, shoes, hygiene supplies, showers, laundry services.

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Best PracticesBest Practices• Create an Intake Form for Families that

includes all family members, particularly younger siblings who are not yet in school.

• Use a separate Intake Form for Unaccompanied Youths, including emergency contacts.

• Create a local resource list for referrals

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DiscussionDiscussion

• How long can (or should) a family or youth residing in the same doubled-up housing situation be considered “homeless”?

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DiscussionDiscussion

• Should teachers be notified of homeless students in their classrooms?

– What are potential advantages?

– What are potential disadvantages?

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ScenarioScenario

A family in your district loses their housing and moves in with a relative in a nearby district. They would like the children to remain in their schools of origin. You contact the other district about splitting the transportation costs, but they believe this is not a homeless case at all. They say the relative’s house is very nice and the family just doesn’t like their schools. What to do?

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ScenarioScenario

An 8th grade student leaves home to live with a friend’s family in another district. The new district enrolled him, but his mother now says they had no right to do so without her permission. Her son has a home she says, so he’s not homeless. She wants the new district to “un-enroll” him.

Is this a Title X case? Why or why not?

What should the Liaison do?

What should the District do?

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ScenarioScenario

Police remove two children from their parental home after a drug arrest and place them in a temporary foster home until Child Welfare can locate relatives to care for them. The district has kept the children at their schools of origin using taxi cabs, but a month has passed and the cost is not sustainable. The caseworker insists the school transportation should continue.

What should the Liaison do?

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Oregon LiaisonsOregon LiaisonsMVA ListservMVA Listserv

• http://lane.k12.or.us/mailman/listinfo/mva

Hosted by Lane ESD

Email Dona Bolt for direct link to subscribe. You must subscribe/unsubscribe yourself.

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Websites:Websites:

• National Center for Homeless Education- NCHE

http://www.serve.org/nche/ -- USDE-approved information for Liaisons and District Staff; topic briefs, toolkits, webinars, online trainings.

• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth - NAEHCY

http://www.naehcy.org/ - Hosts annual conference for Liaisons and State Coordinators.

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Websites:Websites:

• Oregon Department of Educationwww.ode.state.or.us/Go/HomelessEd

OR – Go to ODE home page and search for “Homeless Ed” – click on top folder link.

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For More Information:For More Information:

Dona Bolt, Education Specialist

Oregon Title X Coordinator

dona.bolt@state.or.us

(503) 947-5781

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