McKinney-VentoMcKinney-Vento

Education of Homeless Education of Homeless ChildrenChildren

And Youth ActAnd Youth Act

The School Secretary

YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON THAT MANY FAMILIES DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS SPEAK WITH

YOU ARE A CRITICAL PERSON IN MAINTAINING THE STABILITY OF A HOMELESS CHILD

What you as the first line of contact need to know

What to say What the law (Mckinney-Vento) says Who is homeless Who your school coordinator for McKinney-

Vento is Who your district liaison is

School secretaries are the gatekeepers YOU

– Set the tone of the conversation– Ask the right questions– Provide the link for successful access to school– Refer to your school coordinator or district liaison

SET THE TONE

People don’t want to be categorized as homeless– Respect is key– Tact is critical

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

You want to withdraw your child– Are you moving?– Is there something we could help you with?– Where are you moving to?– Is grandma’s going to be a temporary stay?– You know there are some instances when a child

can stay in their school even when they change address

PROVIDE THE LINK FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL ACCESS

So you want to enroll your child in our school?– We are so happy to have you– Provide parent, guardian with info such as

registration form, brochure on the school or district and include a student’s rights poster which addresses homelessness. Provide this to all new registrants.

– Are there any circumstances that we should be aware of

PROVIDE THE LINK FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL ACCESS

Notice or ask if there are preschool children…they maybe eligible for Head Start

If you are talking to an unaccompanied youth…refer to the liaison…they have special rights

IF THEY SAY THIS MAY BE TEMPORARY

You are not you sure if you are staying? Are you just checking us out? Is there anything I can help you with? If they say that housing is an issue…(you

could say) are you staying with relatives or friends temporarily?

REFERIf they are in a homeless status

Contact your school McKinney-Vento coordinator

If you don’t have a school coordinator, contact your district McKinney-Vento Liaison. – These are the people who will make the referrals

for Transportation Free lunch Services as needed

Refer

If you are not sure they are homeless but think maybe they are It is the liaison’s responsibility to

check it out, not yours

Local Homeless LiaisonsLocal Homeless LiaisonsDistrict level District level

Every LEA must designate a liaison for students in homeless situations

Responsibilities– Ensure that students enroll in, and have full and equal

opportunity to succeed in, school – Ensure that children and youth in homeless situations are

identified– Other duties, arranging transportation, posting notice,

resolving disputes

Causes of HomelessnessCauses of Homelessness

Lack of affordable housingLack of affordable housing Deep povertyDeep poverty Health problemsHealth problems Domestic violenceDomestic violence For unaccompanied youth, abuse/neglectFor unaccompanied youth, abuse/neglect

REMEMBER

• Anyone can become homeless, you, your neighbor.

• Hard times can hit us all

THE LAW: THE LAW: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance ActMcKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Reauthorized 2002 by NCLBReauthorized 2002 by NCLB

PROVIDES:PROVIDES: School stabilitySchool stability School accessSchool access Support for academic successSupport for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision makingChild-centered, best interest decision making

McKinney-Vento

States who is homeless School’s responsibilities regarding

– Enrollment– Transportation– Services– Dispute resolution– Unaccompanied youth

Eligibility - Who is Homeless?Eligibility - Who is Homeless?

Children who Children who lack a fixed, regular, and lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence—adequate nighttime residence—

Sharing the housing of others due to loss of Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasonhousing, economic hardship, or similar reason

Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodationsaccommodations

Living in emergency or transitional sheltersLiving in emergency or transitional shelters Abandoned in hospitalsAbandoned in hospitals

Who is Homeless, ContinuedWho is Homeless, Continued

Children in foster care placementChildren in foster care placement Living in a public or private place not Living in a public or private place not

designed for sleepingdesigned for sleeping Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings,

bus or train stations, etc.bus or train stations, etc. Migratory living in circum-Migratory living in circum-

stances described abovestances described above

School Stability—Key ProvisionsSchool Stability—Key Provisions

Children and youth experiencing homelessness can Children and youth experiencing homelessness can stay in their school of origin or enroll in any public stay in their school of origin or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to their best area are eligible to attend, according to their best interest.interest.

School of origin—school attended when permanently School of origin—school attended when permanently housed or in which last enrolled.housed or in which last enrolled.

Best interest—keep students who are homeless in Best interest—keep students who are homeless in their school of origin, to the extent feasible, unless their school of origin, to the extent feasible, unless against the parents’ or guardians’ wishes.against the parents’ or guardians’ wishes.

School Selection—Key ProvisionsSchool Selection—Key Provisions

Students can stay in their school of origin the Students can stay in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless, and until the entire time they are homeless, and until the end of any academic year in which they end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing.move into permanent housing.

If a student is sent to a school other than that If a student is sent to a school other than that requested by a parent or guardian, the requested by a parent or guardian, the district must provide a written explanation to district must provide a written explanation to the parent or guardian of its decision and the the parent or guardian of its decision and the right to appeal.right to appeal.

Transportation—Key ProvisionsTransportation—Key Provisions

LEAs must provide students experiencing LEAs must provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to and from their homelessness with transportation to and from their school of origin, at a parent’s or guardian’s request school of origin, at a parent’s or guardian’s request (or at the liaisons request for unaccompanied youth).(or at the liaisons request for unaccompanied youth).

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

Transportation—Key ProvisionsTransportation—Key Provisions

In addition to providing transportation to the In addition to providing transportation to the school of origin, LEAs must provide students school of origin, LEAs must provide students in homeless situations with transportation in homeless situations with transportation services comparable to those provided to services comparable to those provided to other students.other students.

Enrollment—Key ProvisionsEnrollment—Key Provisions

Children and youth in homeless situations Children and youth in homeless situations can stay in their school of origin (to the can stay in their school of origin (to the extent feasible) or enroll in any public school extent feasible) or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend.area are eligible to attend.

The terms “enroll” and “enrollment” include The terms “enroll” and “enrollment” include attending classes and participating fully in attending classes and participating fully in school activities.school activities.

Enrollment—Key ProvisionsEnrollment—Key Provisions

Children and youth have the right to enroll in Children and youth have the right to enroll in school immediately, even if they do not have school immediately, even if they do not have required documents, such as school records, required documents, such as school records, medical records, proof of residency, or other medical records, proof of residency, or other documents.documents.

If a student does not have immunizations, or If a student does not have immunizations, or immunization or medical records, the liaison immunization or medical records, the liaison must immediately assist in obtaining them, and must immediately assist in obtaining them, and the student must be enrolled in the interim.the student must be enrolled in the interim.

Enrollment—Key ProvisionsEnrollment—Key Provisions

Enrolling schools must obtain school records from the Enrolling schools must obtain school records from the previous school, and students must be enrolled in previous school, and students must be enrolled in school while records are obtained.school while records are obtained.

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

Federal law supercedes state and local laws where Federal law supercedes state and local laws where there is a conflict. [U.S. Constitution, Article VI]there is a conflict. [U.S. Constitution, Article VI]

SEAs and LEAs must develop, review, and revise SEAs and LEAs must develop, review, and revise policies to remove barriers to enrollment and retention policies to remove barriers to enrollment and retention of children and youth in homeless situations.of children and youth in homeless situations.

Resolution of Disputes—Key Resolution of Disputes—Key ProvisionsProvisions

Every state must establish dispute resolution Every state must establish dispute resolution procedures.procedures.

When a dispute over enrollment arises, the When a dispute over enrollment arises, the student must be immediately admitted to the student must be immediately admitted to the school of choice while the dispute is being school of choice while the dispute is being resolved.resolved.

Liaisons must ensure unaccompanied youth Liaisons must ensure unaccompanied youth are immediately enrolled while the dispute is are immediately enrolled while the dispute is being resolved.being resolved.

Resolution of Disputes—Key Resolution of Disputes—Key ProvisionsProvisions

Whenever a dispute arises, the parent or Whenever a dispute arises, the parent or guardian must be provided with a written guardian must be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision, explanation of the school’s decision, including the right to appeal.including the right to appeal.

The school must refer the child, youth, parent The school must refer the child, youth, parent or guardian to the liaison to carry out the or guardian to the liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as expeditiously dispute resolution process as expeditiously as possible.as possible.

Unaccompanied Youth—Key Unaccompanied Youth—Key ProvisionsProvisions

Definition: youth not in the physical custody of a Definition: youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardianparent or guardian

Liaisons must help unaccompanied youth choose Liaisons must help unaccompanied youth choose and enroll in a school, after considering the youth’s and enroll in a school, after considering the youth’s wishes, and inform the youth of his or her appeal wishes, and inform the youth of his or her appeal rights.rights.

School personnel must be made aware of the School personnel must be made aware of the specific needs of runaway and homeless youth.specific needs of runaway and homeless youth.

Access to ServicesAccess to Services

Students who experience homelessness must have Students who experience homelessness must have access to educational services for which they are access to educational services for which they are eligible, including special education, programs for eligible, including special education, programs for English learners, gifted and talented programs, English learners, gifted and talented programs, voc./tech. programs, and school nutrition programs.voc./tech. programs, and school nutrition programs.

Undocumented children and youth have the same Undocumented children and youth have the same right to attend public school as U.S. citizens and are right to attend public school as U.S. citizens and are covered by the McKinney-Vento Act to the same covered by the McKinney-Vento Act to the same extent as other children and youth. [Plyler v. Doe]extent as other children and youth. [Plyler v. Doe]

Access to ServicesAccess to Services

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

The 2004 reauthorization of IDEA includes The 2004 reauthorization of IDEA includes amendments that reinforce timely assessment, amendments that reinforce timely assessment, inclusion, and continuity of services for children and inclusion, and continuity of services for children and youth who are homeless and have disabilities.youth who are homeless and have disabilities.

Title I and Homelessness—Key Title I and Homelessness—Key ProvisionsProvisions

A child or youth who is homeless and is attending A child or youth who is homeless and is attending any school in the district is automatically eligible for any school in the district is automatically eligible for Title IA services.Title IA services.

LEAs must reserve (or set aside) funds as are LEAs must reserve (or set aside) funds as are necessary to provide services comparable to those necessary to provide services comparable to those provided to children in Title IA schools to serve provided to children in Title IA schools to serve homeless children who do not attend participating homeless children who do not attend participating schools, including providing educationally related schools, including providing educationally related support services to children in shelters and other support services to children in shelters and other locations where children may live.locations where children may live.

What We’re All About—What We’re All About— “…“…Through it all, school is probably the only thing Through it all, school is probably the only thing

that has kept me going. I know that every day that has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in those doors, I can stop thinking that I walk in those doors, I can stop thinking about my problems for the next six hours and about my problems for the next six hours and concentrate on what is most important to me. concentrate on what is most important to me. Without the support of my school system, I Without the support of my school system, I would not be as well off as I am today. School would not be as well off as I am today. School keeps me motivated to move on, and keeps me motivated to move on, and encourages me to find a better life for myself.” encourages me to find a better life for myself.”

Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002