2011-2012

Eagle Mountain – Saginaw ISD

Title I, Part A and McKinney-Vento Provisions

Student Residency Plan for Homeless Children

and Youth

The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District is committed to ensuring that homeless children and youth have access to a quality education

in our public schools. All campuses have a Homeless Education Liaison to assist families in need of information and assistance. All of our schools can

help ease the diff iculties encountered by homeless families.

Homeless children & youth have the right to a free, appropriate public

education.

• Provide training and awareness activities on the definition and signs of homeless for school and district staff, including administrators, bus drivers, counselors, nurses, registrars, secretaries, teachers, and truancy officers.

• Coordinate with community and health services• Provide outreach materials and posters• Educate school staff about “warning signs” that may indicate an

enrolled child or youth may be experiencing homelessness• Make special effort to identify preschool children, including siblings

of school-aged children• Develop relationships with truancy officials or attendance secretaries• Use enrollment and withdrawal forms to inquire about living

situations• Have students draw or write about where they live• Avoid using the word “homeless” in initial contacts with school

personnel, families, and youth

Identifying Strategies in EM-S ISD

For many years, our image of a homeless person was that of a single, older man.

The Reality

Defines and protects the rights of homeless students to enroll in, attend,

and succeed in our public schools

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act of 2001

Who is homeless?The term “homeless children and youth”according to the U.S. Department of Education: (A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular

and adequate nighttime residence…(B) includes— children and youths who are sharing the

housing of other persons due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason

motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations

living in emergency or transitional shelters or housing

Who is Homeless? (Continued)abandoned in hospitalsawaiting foster care placementMigratory children staying in housing nor fit for habitationChildren/youth living on the streetDoubled up with family or friend due to economic conditionsLiving in motels and hotels for lack of other suitable housingRunaway and “Throwaway” children/youth

Who is Homeless? (continued)children and youths who have a

primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings…

children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings

Unaccompanied youth

The McKinney Vento Act provides certain rights for homeless students. They include waiving certain requirements such as proof of residency when students are enrolling and allowing categorical eligibility for certain services, such as free textbooks. The Act also states: Homeless students may attend their school of

origin or the school where they are temporarily residing.

Homeless students must be provided a written statement of their rights when they enroll and at least two times per year.

Provisions under the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act

Homeless students may enroll without school, medical, or similar records.

Homeless students have a right to transportation to school.

Students must be provided a statement explaining why they are denied any service or enrollment.

School districts must review and revise policies that provide barriers to homeless students.

Schools must post information in the community regarding the rights of homeless students, in schools and other places that homeless families frequent.

School districts must identify a McKinney - Vento Liaison to assist students.

Every LEA must designate a liaison for students in homeless situations

Responsibilities:Ensure children /youth in homeless situations are identifiedEnsure homeless students enroll in and have full and equal

opportunity to succeed in schoolLink with educational services, including preschool and

health services Inform parents/guardians, or youth of educational and

parent involvement opportunities Post public notice of educational rightsResolve disputes Inform parents/ guardians, or youth of transportation

services, including to the school of origin

Responsibilities of the Campus

Enrolling schools must obtain school records from the previous school, and students must be enrolled in school while records are being obtained. Schools have ten days to send records. Thirty days to receive immunizations record or start the process.

Schools must maintain records for students who are homeless so they are available quickly .

Immediate Enrollment

• Lack of transportation to or from temporary housing

• Lack of records• immunization and medical records• school records • birth certificates

• Local/state/legal guardianship/residency requirements

• Attendance policies• Secondary school credit accrual

Barriers Students Encounter to Enroll

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, he or she may continue in the school of origin for the following academic year

School Selection

• The District must provide homeless students with transportation to and from their school of origin, at a parent’s/guardian’s request

• If the student’s temporary residence and the school of origin are in the same district, the district must provide transportation; if the student is living outside of the school of origin’s district, the district where the student is living and the school of origin’s district must determine how to divide the responsibility and share the cost, or they must share the cost equally

Transportation

The district will develop a contract between parent/guardian and transportation departmentInclude important information regarding pick

up & drop off points and timesBus Driver’s contact informationParent/Guardian contact information

Transportation (Continued)

Students who experience homelessness must have access to educational services for which they are eligible including all special programs as well as the school nutrition programs

Undocumented children/youth have the same right to attend public school as U.S. citizens and are covered by the McKinney - Vento Act

USDA policy permits homeless liaisons to obtain free school meals for students by providing a list of names of students experiencing homelessness with effective dates

Access to Services

At school services that are offeredFree breakfast and

lunch programsPossible

transportation assistance for children to remain in their home school

Tutoring programsPrograms to help

children learn English

Gifted and talented programs

Summer school programs

Pre-school programsHomeless assistance

programsSchool supplies

Title I, Part A, of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) provides financial assistance through State Educational Agencies (SEAs)to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs or school districts) and public schools with high numbers or percentages of disadvantaged children to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic achievement standards. Title I is designed to support state and local school reform efforts tied to challenging state academic standards in order to reinforce efforts to improve teaching and learning for students struggling to meet state standards.

McKinney-Vento 2001 – Title I and Homelessness

Many challenges faced by homeless students are addressed within the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; however, Title I, Part A, is also in the position to play a significant role in the academic achievement of homeless children and youth. For this reason, Congress included specific provisions related to students experiencing homelessness with Title I, Part A.

McKinney-Vento 2001 – Title I and Homelessness

Homeless students are part of Title I, Part A’s target population of disadvantaged students; however, the high mobility, trauma, and poverty associated with homelessness create unique educational barriers and challenges that non-homeless Title I students may not face. Homelessness is associated with lower standardized test scores and a higher likelihood of missing school and/or experiencing multiple school transfers. Thus, homeless students often require additional supports for academic achievement and success on state assessments.

McKinney-Vento 2001 – Title I, Part A and Homelessness

§25.001(b)(5)

Admit students that are homeless, regardless of the residence of the student, of either parent of the student, or of the student's guardian or other person

For a person under the age of 18 years to establish a separate residence for the purpose of attending the public schools, the person's presence in the school district must not be for the primary purpose of participation in extra curricular activities extra-

The Texas Education Code

§25.001(d)

Chapter 25 covers enrollment and attendance for all students. Although the entire chapter is important, there are several sections which address specific issues of relevance to children/youth experiencing homelessness.

For Texas law that requires school districts to enroll children/youth experiencing homelessness, see 25.001(b)(5).

For Texas law that addresses the enrollment and admission of children/youth living separate and apart from parents or legal guardians, see 25.001(d).

For Texas law that gives a student 30 days to provide the records necessary for enrollment, including proof of immunization, see 25.002.

TEC, Chapter 25, Enrollment and Attendance

Homeless children have a right to attend school.

You do not need a permanent address to enroll your child in school.

Homeless children have the right to stay in their home school if the parents choose.

What are your rights?

Your child cannot be denied school enrollment just because school records or other enrollment documentation are not immediately available.

Your child has the opportunity to receive transportation services to and from the school of origin.

Your child has the right to participate in extracurricular activities and all federal, state, or local programs for which he/she is eligible.

Children with special education needs between the ages of 3 and 21 are eligible to receive special needs services. If you believe your child may be eligible, contact Special Education office at 817-232 - 0880.

Title I, Part A, funds may not be used to provide services that are required under the McKinney-Vento Act, such as providing transportation to and from the school of origin while a student is experiencing homelessness. However, Title I, Part A, funds may be used to coordinate, supplement, or enhance required services. [20 USC 6315(b)(3)]

Coordinating and Supplementing Homeless Education Programs

www.utdanacenter.org/theohttp://staffweb.esc12.net/~

mbooth/homeless_education_service/homeless_education_service_homepage.htm

http://www.ftwha.org/staffweb.esc12.net/homeless/

homeless_education_service_home...

Websites available for more information