Overview of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Reauthorized January, 2002 by NCLB Subtitle B of Title VII

1. Overview of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance ActReauthorized January, 2002 by NCLB (Subtitle B of Title VII) Kendra J. Vandertie, School Social Worker Appleton Area School District Law & Politics of Education EDL 785 April 3, 2008 Only one paragraph mention in our textbook � Chapter 6 on School AttendanceOnly one paragraph mention in our textbook � Chapter 6 on School Attendance

2. How many children and youth experience homelessness? 1.35 million children 10% of all children living in poverty Over 40% of all children who are homeless are under the age of 5

3. Causes of Homelessness Primary cause is lack of affordable housing Sudden loss of income Health problems Natural and other disasters Domestic Violence Abuse/neglect (unaccompanied youth) No jurisdiction in the US has a fair market rent that is affordable on a full time minimum wage job (30% or less of income spent on housing) Job Loss�.Healthcare costs Mental or Physical Hurricane KatrinaNo jurisdiction in the US has a fair market rent that is affordable on a full time minimum wage job (30% or less of income spent on housing) Job Loss�.Healthcare costs Mental or Physical Hurricane Katrina

4. Barriers to Education forHomeless Children and Youth Enrollment requirements High mobility resulting in lack of school stability and educational continuity Lack of access to programs Lack of transportation Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc. Poor health, fatigue, hunger Prejudice and misunderstanding Stress/Trauma School records, immunizations, proof of residence and guardianship More likely to suffer from illnesses such as asthma, ear infections, fevers and stomach problems Suffer from hunger more than twice as often as non-homeless children Often loose sleep due to crowded living conditions and stress Loss of the familiar such as housing and friends, constant worries about whether they will have a place to stay and higher likelihood of witnessing violence, including domestic violenceSchool records, immunizations, proof of residence and guardianship More likely to suffer from illnesses such as asthma, ear infections, fevers and stomach problems Suffer from hunger more than twice as often as non-homeless children Often loose sleep due to crowded living conditions and stress Loss of the familiar such as housing and friends, constant worries about whether they will have a place to stay and higher likelihood of witnessing violence, including domestic violence

5. McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act Main themes Eligibility Homeless Liaisons Identification School stability School access/equal access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making

6. Eligibility�Who is Covered? Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence� Doubled Up Living in motels, hotels, trailer park, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations Living in emergency or transitional shelters Abandoned in hospitals Awaiting foster care placement Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, etc. Migratory children living in any of the above circumstances Unaccompanied youth Doubled Up means those sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason Doubled Up means those sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

7. McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act Main themes Eligibility Homeless Liaisons Identification School stability School access/equal access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making

8. Local HomelessEducation Liaisons There is a Federal Level Coordinator of Homeless Education (Federal law supercedes state and local laws where there is a conflict. US Constitution, Article VI) Every State must have a State Coordinator of Homeless Education Every public school district must have a Homeless Liaison Every State must have a State Coordinator of Homeless Education to ensure school district compliance, collecting data on educational barriers, and providing trainings and technical assistance regarding homeless education LEA must designate a liaison for students in homeless situations who must ensure identification (confidentially), enrollment, access to services and resolution of disputes The local LEA liaison must also post public notice and inform parents and unaccompanied youth of their educational rights while homeless. The local LEA must develop, review and revise policies to remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of children and youth in homeless situations. Every State must have a State Coordinator of Homeless Education to ensure school district compliance, collecting data on educational barriers, and providing trainings and technical assistance regarding homeless education LEA must designate a liaison for students in homeless situations who must ensure identification (confidentially), enrollment, access to services and resolution of disputes The local LEA liaison must also post public notice and inform parents and unaccompanied youth of their educational rights while homeless. The local LEA must develop, review and revise policies to remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of children and youth in homeless situations.

9. McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act Main themes Eligibility Homeless Liaisons Identification and Enrollment School stability School access/equal access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making

10. Identification Strategies Provide awareness activities for all school staff Coordinate with community service agencies serving homeless Provide outreach materials and posters where there is a frequent influx of low-income families and youth in high-risk situations 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, or youth

11. Segregation States are prohibited from segregating homeless students in separate schools, separate programs within schools, or separate settings within schools SEAs and LEAs must adopt policies and practices to ensure that homeless children and youth are not segregated or stigmatized on the basis of their status as homeless

12. McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act Main themes Eligibility Homeless Liaisons Identification School stability School access/equal access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making

13. School Stability�Key Provisions School of Origin (School attended when permanently housed or in which last enrolled) Homeless children and youth have the right to enroll in school immediately even if they do not have required documents Enrolling schools must obtain school records from the previous school; and students must be enrolled in school while records are obtained. Districts (liaisons) must assist the family in obtaining immunizations, immunization records, or medical records. In the meantime, the student must be enrolled and attending classes. Children and youth experiencing homelessness can stay in their school of origin or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to their best interest Students can remain in a school of origin the entire time they are homeless, and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing. Best interest�keep homeless students in their schools of origin, to the extent feasible, unless this is against the parents� or guardians� wishes Enroll means attending classes/participating in activities. Children and youth experiencing homelessness can stay in their school of origin or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to their best interest Students can remain in a school of origin the entire time they are homeless, and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing. Best interest�keep homeless students in their schools of origin, to the extent feasible, unless this is against the parents� or guardians� wishes Enroll means attending classes/participating in activities.

14. Research on School Mobility Students who switch schools frequently score lower on standardized tests Mobility also hurts non-mobile students; study found average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly lower in high schools with high student mobility rates It takes children an average of 4-6 months to recover academically after changing schools Students suffer psychologically, socially, and academically from mobility; mobile students are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble Mobility during high school greatly diminishes the likelihood of graduation; study found students who changed high schools even once were less than half as likely as stable students to graduate, even controlling for other factors

15. Transportation�Key Provisions LEAs must provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to and from their school of origin If the student�s temporary residence and the school of origin are in the same LEA, that LEA must provide or arrange transportation; if the student is living outside of the school of origin�s LEA, the LEA where the student is living and the school of origin�s LEA must determine how to divide the responsibility and share the cost, or they must share the cost equally Transportation to school of origin is to be provided at a parent�s, guardian�s or unaccompanied youths request (if the student is temporarily residing outside of the school attendance area) Suggestion is to develop formal or informal agreements with school districts where homeless children cross district lines Transportation to school of origin is to be provided at a parent�s, guardian�s or unaccompanied youths request (if the student is temporarily residing outside of the school attendance area) Suggestion is to develop formal or informal agreements with school districts where homeless children cross district lines

16. Transportation Strategies Re-route school buses (including special education) Provide passes for public transportation Reimburse parents or unaccompanied youth for gas Collaborate with the parent for the best mode of transportation at the most economical rate Use approved taxi services

17. Resolution of Disputes�Key Provisions Every state and public school district must establish dispute resolution procedures When a dispute over enrollment arises, the student must be admitted immediately to the school of choice while the dispute is being resolved (includes unaccompanied youth)

18. Unaccompanied Youth Revise LEA policies to accommodate unaccompanied youth and comply with the McKinney-Vento Act Revise enrollment forms Provide opportunity to enroll in diversified learning opportunities Provide a �safe place� and trained mentor at school for unaccompanied youth to access as needed Permit exceptions to school policies Assist with credit accrual and recovery Develop caretaker forms, self-enrollment forms for unaccompanied youth, and other forms to replace typical proof of guardianship; such forms should be crafted carefully so they do not create further barriers or delay enrollment Provide unaccompanied youth the opportunity to enroll in diversified learning opportunities, such as vocational education, credit-for-work programs, and flexible school hours Permit exceptions to school policies on class schedules, tardiness, absences and credits to accommodate the needs of unaccompanied youth Develop caretaker forms, self-enrollment forms for unaccompanied youth, and other forms to replace typical proof of guardianship; such forms should be crafted carefully so they do not create further barriers or delay enrollment Provide unaccompanied youth the opportunity to enroll in diversified learning opportunities, such as vocational education, credit-for-work programs, and flexible school hours Permit exceptions to school policies on class schedules, tardiness, absences and credits to accommodate the needs of unaccompanied youth

19. Preschool-Aged Children Liaisons must ensure that families and children have access to Head Start, Even Start, and other public preschool programs (Title-I) administered by the LEA The McKinney-Vento Act also applies to Head Start with the 2007 reauthorization of the Head Start Act (Exemptions: transportation to school of origin and immediate enrollment) Coordinate with IDEA Child Find Ask parents enrolling school aged children if there are any preschool children

20. McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act Main themes Eligibility Homeless Liaisons Identification School stability School access/equal access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making

21. Access to Services Students who experience homelessness must have access to educational services for which they are eligible Undocumented children and youth have the same right to attend public school as U.S. citizens and are covered by the McKinney-Vento Act to the same extent as other children and youth (Plyler v. Doe) USDA policy permits liaisons and shelter directors to obtain free school meals for students by providing a list of names of students experiencing homelessness with effective dates includes special education, programs for English learners, gifted and talented programs, voc./tech. programs, and school nutrition programs The 2004 reauthorization of IDEA includes amendments that reinforce timely assessment, inclusion, and continuity of services for homeless children and youth who have disabilities includes special education, programs for English learners, gifted and talented programs, voc./tech. programs, and school nutrition programs The 2004 reauthorization of IDEA includes amendments that reinforce timely assessment, inclusion, and continuity of services for homeless children and youth who have disabilities

22. McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act Main themes Eligibility Homeless Liaisons Identification School stability School access/equal access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making

23. Title I and Homelessness�Key Provisions A child or youth who is homeless and is attending any school in the district is automatically eligible for Title IA services LEAs must reserve (or set aside) funds as are necessary to provide services comparable to those provided to children in Title IA schools to serve homeless children who do not attend participating schools, including providing educational support services to children in shelters and other locations where homeless children may live Title I can provide academic supports such as reading assistance, tutoring, etc. They do not have to be attending a school that receives Title-I funding Strategies for Determining the Title I Set-Aside Amount Review needs and costs involved in serving homeless students in the current year and project for the following year Multiply the number of homeless students by the Title IA per pupil allocation For districts with subgrants, reserve an amount greater than or equal to the McKinney-Vento subgrant funding request Reserve a percentage based on the district�s poverty level or total Title IA allocationThey do not have to be attending a school that receives Title-I funding Strategies for Determining the Title I Set-Aside Amount Review needs and costs involved in serving homeless students in the current year and project for the following year Multiply the number of homeless students by the Title IA per pupil allocation For districts with subgrants, reserve an amount greater than or equal to the McKinney-Vento subgrant funding request Reserve a percentage based on the district�s poverty level or total Title IA allocation

24. Subgrants - Wisconsin Services provided with McKinney-Vento grant funds must not replace the regular academic program and must be designed to expand upon or improve services provided as part of the school�s regular academic program Appleton Green Bay Wisconsin Rapids Madison Milwaukee Platteville Superior Racine Kenosha Eau Claire Middleton-Cross Plaines Janesville

25. Helpful Resources (Bibliography) National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) #202-638-2535 http://www.nlchp.org National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) #202-364-7392 http://www.naehcy.org National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) #1-800-308-2145 http://serve.org/nche Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program, Mary Maronek #608-261-6322 http://dpi.wi.gov/homeless/ Appleton Area School District, Homeless Education Program Coordinator, Kendra Vandertie, #920-997-1399 x3006