Get to Know the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

• Operates U.S. Department of Education’s homeless education technical assistance & information center. Has– Comprehensive website:

www.serve.org/nche

– Toll-free helpline: Call 800-308-2145 or e-mail homeless@serve.org

– Listserv: Visit www.serve.org/nche/listserv.php for subscription instructions

– Free resources: Visitwww.serve.org/nche/products.php

School Access and Stability under the McKinney-Vento Act

National Center forHomeless Education (NCHE)

Jan Moore jmoore@serve.org

Alabama MEGA ConferenceJuly 22, 2015

National Data

1,258,182 students

experienced homelessness*

*2012-13 CSPR

Shelters15.5%

Unsheltered: 3.4%

Doubled-Up 75.5%

Hotels/Motels 5.7%

Doubled-Up 78.6%Hotels/Motels 5.9%Shelters8.4%

Unsheltered 7%

29,749 students

experienced homelessness

*

*2012-13 CSPR

Alabama Data

Alabama Students Living in Poverty

• 57% - free lunch; 79% - free breakfast• Total public school enrollment 749,084• 57% of 749,084 = 426,978 students in

poverty• Conservative estimate:10% of students

living in poverty will experience homelessness each year (42,698)

• Using conservative estimates, AL schools may under-identify by nearly 13,000 homeless students

The McKinney-Vento Act

• Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.)

• Reauthorized by NCLB• Provides educational access, stability, &

support• Establishes the definition of homeless • Ensures students experiencing

homelessness have immediate & equal access to public education

The McKinney-Vento Act

• Addresses unique barriers faced by homeless students, including:– School enrollment requirements– High residential & school mobility– Poverty-related challenges (inadequate

school supplies, nutrition, & healthcare)– Absence of involved parents or guardians

with unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY)

• Every school district must designate an appropriate staff person to serve as the local homeless liaison; may be the coordinator for other federal programs

• Play a critical role in the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act

• Serve as the key homeless education contact for the school district

NCHE Homeless Liaison Toolkit http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/liaison_toolkit.php

Local Liaisons

Local Liaison Responsibilities

• Identify homeless children & youth• Ensure homeless students enroll

immediately & participate fully in school• Inform parents, guardians, & youth of

educational rights• Ensure educational rights are posted

throughout the school district & community

NCHE educational rights posters http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/er_poster.php

Local Liaison Responsibilities

• Mediate disputes promptly• Support UHY with school selection &

dispute resolution• Collaborate with other district programs

& community agencies• Link homeless students with other

services, as needed

NCHE Homeless Liaison Toolkit http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/liaison_toolkit.php

Local Liaison Responsibilities

• Local liaisons should build collaborations to assist in meeting student needs, including partnerships with:– Providers of public benefits, including

departments of housing & public health, TANF, & SNAP offices

– Local businesses & non-profit organizations

– Faith-based organizations– Food & clothing banks

• Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, & adequate nighttime residence, including:– Sharing the housing of other persons due

to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason

– Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations

– Living in emergency or transitional shelters– Awaiting foster care placement

Homeless Definition (cont.)

– Living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

– Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings

– Migratory children living in the above circumstances

– Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances

Homeless Definition (cont.)

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY)• To be considered an UHY:

1. The student’s living arrangement must meet the definition of homeless, AND

2. The student must be considered unaccompanied, defined as “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”

HomelessNot in

Physical Custody

UHY

NCHE’s Unaccompanied Youth Eligibility Flowchart http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/uhy-elig-chart.pdf

Shared Housing

• “Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.” Consider:

– Why the parties moved in together. Was it due to a crisis or a mutual choice as a plan for mutual benefit?

– How permanent the living arrangement is intended to be

– Where student would live if not sharing housing

– Whether the living arrangement is fixed, regular, & adequate

Fixed, Regular, and Adequate

• Fixed:– Stationary, permanent, not subject to change

• Regular:– Used on a predictable, routine, consistent basis– Consider the relative permanence

• Adequate:– Lawfully & reasonably sufficient– Sufficient for meeting physical & psychological

needs typically met in a home environment

Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a

SAFE & SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

Important Eligibility Considerations

• Use legislative wording, including fixed, regular & adequate, to determine eligibility

• Make determinations on case-by-case basis according to each child’s circumstances

• Recognize that some cases will be clear-cut; others will require further inquiry & analysis

• Remember that the list of living situations included in the law describes common homeless situations, but it is not exhaustive

• Does the student’s living arrangement fit into one of the homeless examples in the law?

• If not, would the student qualify for services due to living in another type of housing that is not fixed, regular, & adequate?

NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief contains more guiding questions.http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/det_elig.pdf

Analyze the Facts

Mr. Upton lost his job. To avoid falling behind on the mortgage payments, the family rented out their house & moved in with friends. The school

bus driver reported that Mrs. Upton has been driving son, Dan, to his bus stop. Dan’s

principal says he must transfer since he’s no longer living in that school’s attendance zone.

Is Dan eligible for McKinney-Vento services?

Why or why not?

What do you think?

Questions?

School Selection

• Students experiencing homelessness may attend either the:– Local attendance area school:• Any public school that students living in the

same attendance area are eligible to attend

– School of origin:• School the student attended when

permanently housed; or• School in which the student was last

enrolled

School Selection

• Best interest: Keep students in their schools of origin, to the extent feasible, unless this is against parent or guardian’s wishes

• If there is a disagreement about school selection, initiate the dispute resolution process

NCHE’s Guiding the Discussion on School Selection brief http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/sch_sel_checklist.pdf

Feasibility Considerations

• Age of the child or youth• Distance of a commute & its impact on the

student’s education– No time or distance limits – Consider each student’s situation & how

transportation will affect student’s education

• Personal safety issues• Student’s need for special instruction (e.g.,

special education & related services)

Feasibility Considerations (cont.)

• Anticipated length of stay in a temporary

shelter or other temporary location

• Time remaining in the school year

School selection determination must be student-centered & individualized

U.S. Department of Education Guidance, Question G-4 www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/guidance.pdf

School of Origin

• Students may continue attending the school of origin: – the entire time they are homeless, or – until the end of any school year in which

they move into permanent housing• Students who become homeless between

school years may continue attending the school of origin the following school year

It’s August. The Bakers just lost their housing in Elm School District & doubled up with relatives in another district. They have

come to Elm District to enroll their three children in kindergarten, 2nd, & 6th grade. The parents want the youngest child to

attend school with her 2nd grade brother & the rising middle-schooler to stay in the

feeder pattern school.

Where does each child have the right to

enroll according to McKinney-Vento?

What do you think?

Questions?

Enrollment

• Definition: “attending classes & participating fully in school activities”

• School must enroll immediately, even if lacking documentation normally required

• School must help parents, guardians, & UHY obtain immunizations or immunization or medical records – In the meantime, the school must

continue the student’s enrollment

Enrollment

• States & districts must develop, review, & revise policies to remove barriers to the enrollment & retention of homeless students

• McKinney-Vento Act (federal law) supersedes state or local law or policy when there is a conflict (U.S. Constitution, Article VI)

NCHE enrollment resources http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/sc_enroll.php

School of Origin Transportation

• Must transport students to & from the school of origin when requested by parent or guardian (or local liaison for UHY)

• If the student lives & attends school within the same district, that district must provide or arrange transportation

• If the student lives & attends in different districts, the districts must agree on how to split the responsibility & cost of transportation or share them equally

School of Origin Transportation

• District determines mode of transportation; can use any type that – Meets state & local guidelines– Provides for students’ safety

– Ensures full participation in school

• Ask pupil transportation directors about options

• Work with liaisons in surrounding districts

Comparable Transportation

• In addition to school of origin transportation, districts must provide homeless students with transportation services comparable to those offered to other students

NCHE transportation resources http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/sc_transport.php

Seven year old Tia & her mom are staying in a shelter inside the school’s walk zone

where there is no school bus service. Mom is disabled and cannot walk Tia to school. They have just fled an abusive situation.

Mom is afraid for Tia to walk alone, so she asks the liaison to set up transportation. What is the district’s responsibility?

What do you think?

Dispute Resolution

• States must establish procedures for the prompt resolution of enrollment or school selection disputes

• If a disagreement occurs, the district must:– Provide a written explanation of its

decision, including the right to appeal the decision

– Refer the parent/guardian/UHY to the liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as quickly as possible

• UHY have the same right to dispute as parents/guardians

• While the dispute is in process, students must be:– Enrolled immediately in the school in

which enrollment is sought– Provided with school of origin

transportation, if requested– Provided with all services for which they

are eligible

Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution

• Liaisons should familiarize themselves with the state McKinney-Vento dispute policy, as it may include requirements for districts

• Documentation should be kept for all interventions, not just formal disputes

NCHE Dispute Resolution briefhttp://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/resolution.pdf

Ms. Park & her son, Albert who is in kindergarten, were evicted from their

apartment & are doubling up with a family member in another district. Ms. Park wants Albert to continue attending his school of

origin, but you are not sure this is in his best interest.

How will you proceed?

What do you think?

Young Homeless Children

• Poverty, mobility, & unsafe living conditions subject children to a steady barrage of stress during critical development years, resulting in higher than average rates of:– Food insecurity– Development delays/learning impairments– Acute & chronic health problems– Behavioral & emotional problems– Exposure to domestic violence

• Local liaisons must:– Ensure homeless children receive

educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start & preschool programs administered by the district

– Provide homeless children with referrals to health care, dental, mental health, & other appropriate services

McKinney-Vento & Preschool

McKinney-Vento & Preschool

• To ensure the identification of homeless preschoolers, local liaisons should:– Work with school personnel, who can ask

families enrolling school-age children whether there are preschool-age siblings

– Collaborate with district special education & early intervention personnel not located within the district to identify young homeless children who may be in need of special education services

• Uses the McKinney-Vento homeless definition

• Establishes categorical eligibility of young homeless children for Head Start

• Requires Head Start personnel to collaborate with the local liaison & community programs serving homeless infants & toddlers

Head Start Act

Recommendations for Pre-K Services

• Prioritize homeless families for services– Use targeted slots to ensure access

• Provide services while obtaining immunization & health records, etc.

• Pool funds to maximize impact– Head Start, Title I, McKinney-Vento, Child

Subsidies, etc.• Follow Head Start quality standards

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY)

• Often lack adult caregiver, so are particularly susceptible to: – Mental health & substance abuse issues– Criminal victimization, including rape &

assault– Criminal activity related to survival– Pregnancy & sexually transmitted disease– Barriers to education & employment

• No MV age limits; use state age limit for public education

• Youth can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was asked to leave or ran away

• Parent/guardian/student may not reveal what brought about the separation

• If caregiver is legal guardian, student is not unaccompanied, but could still be homeless

• Parent/guardian can be permanently housed while the student is homeless & vice versa

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY) (cont.)

• Develop forms to replace proof of guardianship; new forms must not create further barriers or delay enrollment – Samples: NCHE’s Homeless Liaison Toolkit,

Appendix 5A• Local liaisons must assist UHY with school

selection & dispute resolution• Become familiar with state & local policies:

minor medical consent, reporting, etc.• Be flexible with students & provide extra

supports, as needed

Strategies for Serving UHY

Questions?

General School Support

• Ease student transitions to local school by:– Ensuring the prompt transfer of records– Facilitating the transfer of academic

credits– Helping schools create a welcoming

environment– Connecting students to needed services,

extra-curricular activities, etc.

General School Support

• Provide school personnel with resources & strategies, including:– Potential Warning Signs of Homelessness

center.serve.org/nche/nche/warning.html

– Teaching and Classroom Strategies for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/res-summ-teach-class.pdf

– School Personnel Resources webpage: http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/educ_schpers.php

General School Support

• Provide support for participation in extra-curricular activities– MV enrollment definition includes full

participation – Transportation– Club & field trip fees

• Support parents by:

– Offering after-hours (evening or Saturday) & off-site parent meetings

– Explaining class/school expectations & the challenges of changing schools mid-year

Title I Eligibility

• Homeless students are categorically eligible for Title I services:– Including services provided through

school-wide, targeted assistance, & other Title I programs

– Regardless of other eligibility criteria– For the remainder of any school year in

which they become permanently housed– Through the Title I, Part A set-aside, if not

attending a Title I school

Title I, Part A Set-aside

• Districts must set aside funds to:– Serve homeless children not attending

Title I schools– Provide services comparable to those

provided to children at Title I schools• Districts may provide homeless

students with services– not ordinarily provided to Title I students– not available from other sources

Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness under Title I, Part A http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/titlei.pdf

Determining a Set-aside Amount

• Title I director & local liaison should work together to choose– Method of determining the set-aside

amount, and – Actual set-aside amount

• Districts must consider needs of homeless students for needs assessments required by Title I

Educating Homeless Children and Youth: Conducting Needs Assessments and Evaluating Services - A Guide for SEAs, LEAs, and Local Schools http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/na_eval.php

Acceptable Uses of Title I Funds

• Educationally related support services to children in shelters & other locations

• Reasonable & necessary services to assist students in taking advantage of educational opportunities

• Services not available from other sources

Using Title I, Part A ARRA Funds for Grants to Local Educational Agencies to Strengthen Education, Drive Reform, and Improve Results for Studentshttp://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/guidance/titlei-reform.pdf

Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015• Extended policy changes in the

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014

• Allows Title I, Part A funds to provide homeless students with services not ordinarily provided to other students, including funds to:– support the local liaison position– provide school of origin transportation

Link to the law and Dear Colleague letter http://center.serve.org/nche/legis/omnibus.php

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• Primary piece of federal law related to the education of students with disabilities

• Uses McKinney-Vento homeless definition

• Requires homeless students (birth through age 21) with disabilities be identified & evaluated for services (Child Find)

• Establishes criteria & timelines for appointing surrogate & temporary surrogates for UHY

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• When students transfer to new district:– During the evaluation process, new district

must promptly finish evaluations– Within the state, new district may adopt

the previous Individualized Education Program (IEP) or develop a new IEP, in consultation with a parent

– In a different state, new district may adopt the previous IEP, or conduct a new evaluation & develop a new IEP

Child Nutrition Act

• Grants categorical eligibility for free school meals to homeless students

• Authorizes streamlined procedures for documenting eligibility. Homeless students– Do not need to fill out the standard

household applications– Can be certified directly by a local liaison or

shelter director

• Establishes eligibility for free school meals for the entire school year & up to 30 days into the subsequent school year

College Cost Reduction and Access Act

• UHY – Status can be determined by local

liaison, HUD or RHYA shelter worker, or college financial aid administrator

– Can apply for federal financial aid as independent students on the FAFSA

• Independent students– Don’t need a parent/guardian signature

or income information on the FAFSA– Receive financial aid based solely on

student’s income & assets

Tools to Help with College Transition

• Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA http://www.naehcy.org/educational-resources/higher-ed

• Making Student Status Determinations for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Eligibility Tool for Financial Aid Administrators http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/faa_tool.php

Questions?