The McKinney-Vento The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education ActHomeless Education Act

School Community LiaisonsSchool Community Liaisons

What is McKinney-Vento?What is McKinney-Vento?• The McKinney-Vento Act was designed to meet the The McKinney-Vento Act was designed to meet the

educational needs of children in transition.educational needs of children in transition.• Specifically, McKinney-Vento was designed to Specifically, McKinney-Vento was designed to

ensure that homeless children and youth are ensure that homeless children and youth are provided with “equal access to the same free, provided with “equal access to the same free, appropriate public education…as are other children appropriate public education…as are other children and youth.” They qualify for Title I programs and and youth.” They qualify for Title I programs and school meals. school meals.

• Ensures children attend school of origin if it is in Ensures children attend school of origin if it is in the best interest of the child, regardless of where the best interest of the child, regardless of where they live. This is determined on an individual basis, they live. This is determined on an individual basis, not a guarantee, and search for a “spectrum of not a guarantee, and search for a “spectrum of needs.”needs.”

Doubled-Up

Motel/Hotel

Sheltered/Transitional

Unsheltered

Doubled-Up

Motel/Hotel

Sheltered/Transitional

Unsheltered

National & Local National & Local ComparisonComparison

AUHSD Total for SY 10/11 = 2,600

U.S. Total for SY O8/09 = 915,173

Rationale Behind the Rationale Behind the ProgramProgram

• In the past, many homeless children and In the past, many homeless children and youth were educated in separate facilities youth were educated in separate facilities such as shelters or special programs.such as shelters or special programs.• Homeless children and youth were not given Homeless children and youth were not given

the opportunity to enroll in many public school the opportunity to enroll in many public school districts.districts.

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964The Civil Rights Act of 1964• Prohibits segregationProhibits segregation• Separate but unequal (Brown v. Topeka, 1954)Separate but unequal (Brown v. Topeka, 1954)

Rationale Behind the Rationale Behind the ProgramProgram

• Each time students Each time students change schools, change schools, they become they become further and further further and further behind from their behind from their peers. peers.

• Many homeless Many homeless youth drop out of youth drop out of school because school because they feel they can they feel they can never catch up.never catch up.

Rights of Eligible StudentsRights of Eligible Students

• Right to immediate enrollment Right to immediate enrollment even when records are not even when records are not presentpresent

• Right to remain in the school of Right to remain in the school of origin, if in student’s best origin, if in student’s best interestinterest

• Right to receive transportation Right to receive transportation to the school of originto the school of origin

• Support for academic successSupport for academic success

Homelessness DefinedHomelessness Defined

• The McKinney-Vento Act The McKinney-Vento Act defines homelessness as:defines homelessness as:• Lacking a regular, fixed and Lacking a regular, fixed and

adequate nighttime residenceadequate nighttime residence• Sharing housing or “doubling up”Sharing housing or “doubling up”• Living in a shelter, hotel, or motelLiving in a shelter, hotel, or motel• Living in a public or private place Living in a public or private place

not intended for residencynot intended for residency• Living in cars, parks and camps Living in cars, parks and camps

The Cycle of The Cycle of HomelessnessHomelessness

Costs of Living

Loss of Job

Unexpected Bills

LowWages

Common Misconceptions Common Misconceptions About HomelessnessAbout Homelessness

• Most homeless Most homeless people live on the people live on the streets.streets.

• Most homeless Most homeless individuals are individuals are single men.single men.

• Homelessness is Homelessness is on the decline. on the decline.

The Truth About The Truth About HomelessnessHomelessness

• There are more homeless people today There are more homeless people today than during the Great Depressionthan during the Great Depression

• The difference is that instead of single men, The difference is that instead of single men, many American homeless are children.many American homeless are children.

• 90% of the homeless population are the 90% of the homeless population are the “working poor.” Shipler comments.“working poor.” Shipler comments.

• Low and minimum wage makes it virtually Low and minimum wage makes it virtually impossible to afford housing especially in OC impossible to afford housing especially in OC

Orange County StatisticsOrange County Statistics

• In Orange County, there is a severe In Orange County, there is a severe lack of affordable housing.lack of affordable housing.• The average rent for a two bedroom The average rent for a two bedroom

apartment in Orange County is $1,200.apartment in Orange County is $1,200.• Minimum wage is $8.00.Minimum wage is $8.00.• Applicants must wait an average of 20 Applicants must wait an average of 20

months for public housing, and 35 months for public housing, and 35 months for Section 8 vouchers. months for Section 8 vouchers.

What is the Impact of Poverty What is the Impact of Poverty and Homelessness on and Homelessness on

Children?Children?

• On their Physical HealthOn their Physical Health• MalnutritionMalnutrition• Chronic and Acute IllnessesChronic and Acute Illnesses

• On their EducationOn their Education• TransfersTransfers• AbsencesAbsences• Lower Academic AchievementLower Academic Achievement

• On their Mental HealthOn their Mental Health• DepressionDepression• AnxietyAnxiety• Adjustment DisordersAdjustment Disorders

District ResponsibilitiesDistrict Responsibilities• District Liaisons are responsible for District Liaisons are responsible for

educating stakeholders and educating stakeholders and expediting school enrollment for expediting school enrollment for McKinney-Vento qualifying youth.McKinney-Vento qualifying youth.• Even if the student is missing a birth Even if the student is missing a birth

certificate or other identification.certificate or other identification.• Even if the student is missing medical Even if the student is missing medical

records or has not been immunized.records or has not been immunized.

• The student has the right to The student has the right to stay at his/her school of origin, stay at his/her school of origin, even if they are no longer living even if they are no longer living within the school’s boundaries.within the school’s boundaries.

Additional District Additional District ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

• District Liaison must provide District Liaison must provide homeless students with homeless students with transportation to and from transportation to and from school.school.• Typically, the districts provide Typically, the districts provide

McKinney-Vento students with bus McKinney-Vento students with bus passes.passes.

• If special arrangements need to be If special arrangements need to be made, the district is responsible made, the district is responsible for ensuring proper transportation for ensuring proper transportation to and from school.to and from school.

• Determine a “Spectrum of Needs.”Determine a “Spectrum of Needs.”

The School Staff The School Staff ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

• It is important that we are It is important that we are aware of the McKinney-Vento aware of the McKinney-Vento youth in our schools.youth in our schools.• We should work in conjunction We should work in conjunction

with the district with the district representatives to ensure that representatives to ensure that McKinney-Vento students are McKinney-Vento students are receiving services: receiving services: • Immediate registrationImmediate registration• TransportationTransportation• MealsMeals• Additional academic supportAdditional academic support

Additional School Staff Additional School Staff UnderstandingsUnderstandings

• Systemically, we know Systemically, we know that homelessness is not that homelessness is not the only issue that these the only issue that these students are trying to students are trying to manage.manage.• Unsafe living situationsUnsafe living situations• Peer pressures Peer pressures • PovertyPoverty• Mental health problemsMental health problems• Chronic health concernsChronic health concerns• Lack of community supportLack of community support

Three Controversial Three Controversial IssuesIssues

• Some school districts believe it was a waste of Some school districts believe it was a waste of time to enroll homeless students who will almost time to enroll homeless students who will almost certainly move again within a short period of time.certainly move again within a short period of time.

• Some argue that it is unsafe for homeless students Some argue that it is unsafe for homeless students to be enrolled until they are properly immunized. to be enrolled until they are properly immunized. Change in the law for purtussis.Change in the law for purtussis.

• The unaccompanied minor presents special The unaccompanied minor presents special challenges in balancing student rights with CPS challenges in balancing student rights with CPS duty. duty.

What Can We Do?What Can We Do?• We can provide We can provide

McKinney-Vento students McKinney-Vento students and their families with:and their families with:• SWI Mental Health ServicesSWI Mental Health Services• Family Therapy ReferralsFamily Therapy Referrals• Links to Community Links to Community

ResourcesResources

• Most importantly, treat all Most importantly, treat all families with respect, families with respect, dignity, & the Golden Ruledignity, & the Golden Rule

• Thank you for all you’ve Thank you for all you’ve done with our studentsdone with our students

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

• CDE Homeless Education CDE Homeless Education www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs

• Toll-free Number 1-866-856-8214Toll-free Number 1-866-856-8214• National Association for the Education of National Association for the Education of

Homeless Children and YouthHomeless Children and Youth• National Center for Homeless EducationNational Center for Homeless Education• National Law Center for Homelessness National Law Center for Homelessness

and Povertyand Poverty

Any QuestionsAny Questions