immediate enrollment under mckinney- vento: keeping students safe …through it all, school is...

Immediate Enrollment Under McKinney-Immediate Enrollment Under McKinney-Vento: Keeping Students SafeVento: Keeping Students Safe

“…“…Through it all, school is probably the only thing that has kept me Through it all, school is probably the only thing that has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in those doors, I can stop going. I know that every day that I walk in those doors, I can stop

thinking about my problems for the next six hours and concentrate on thinking about my problems for the next six hours and concentrate on what is most important to me. Without the support of my school system, what is most important to me. Without the support of my school system, I would not be as well off as I am today. School keeps me motivated to I would not be as well off as I am today. School keeps me motivated to

move on, and encourages me to find a better life for myself.” move on, and encourages me to find a better life for myself.” Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002

National Center for Homeless Education ● www.serve.org/nche 2

Our Agenda TodayOur Agenda Today

• Schools can play a pivotal role in supporting the Schools can play a pivotal role in supporting the safety of children and youth experiencing safety of children and youth experiencing homelessness, including runaway youth, youth homelessness, including runaway youth, youth who have been put out of their homes, abducted who have been put out of their homes, abducted children and survivors of domestic violence.children and survivors of domestic violence.

• This presentation will give an overview of This presentation will give an overview of homelessness, McKinney-Vento, and how we homelessness, McKinney-Vento, and how we can make our school district a safe place.can make our school district a safe place.


Warm-Up ActivityWarm-Up Activity

• Work with your colleagues to complete a monthly budget.

• Left side of the room: budget for a 2-parent household with 2 school-aged children and 1 preschooler

• Right side of the room: budget for a single-parent household with 2 school-aged children

• Try to cut costs as much as possible, while being realistic.


Warm-Up Activity (cont.)Warm-Up Activity (cont.)

• What did you find?• How would your hypothetical family

survive a serious illness, loss of job, car trouble, or any unexpected bill?

• How could your hypothetical family save money to buy a home or have a cushion for unexpected expenses?


How many children and youth How many children and youth experience homelessness?experience homelessness?

• Over 1.35 million children nationallyOver 1.35 million children nationally

• # enrolled in school in our state/district# enrolled in school in our state/district

(roughly X% (roughly X% (insert #)(insert #) of all children and of all children and youth in state/district)youth in state/district)

• 10% of all children living in poverty10% of all children living in poverty

• Over 40% of all childrenOver 40% of all children

who are homeless arewho are homeless are

under the age of 5under the age of 5


Causes of HomelessnessCauses of Homelessness

• Lack of affordable housingLack of affordable housing

• Severe povertySevere poverty

• Health problemsHealth problems

• Loss of jobLoss of job

• Domestic violenceDomestic violence

• Natural and other disastersNatural and other disasters

• Abuse/neglect (unaccompanied youth)Abuse/neglect (unaccompanied youth)


Unaccompanied Youth--Unaccompanied Youth--Who Are They?Who Are They?

• Definition: a McKinney-Vento child or youth who Definition: a McKinney-Vento child or youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardianguardian

• Studies have found that 20-50% of Studies have found that 20-50% of unaccompanied youth were sexually abused in unaccompanied youth were sexually abused in their homes; 40-60% were physically abusedtheir homes; 40-60% were physically abused

• Only about half of homeless youth are Only about half of homeless youth are considered to have a chance of family considered to have a chance of family reconciliationreconciliation


Unaccompanied Youth--Unaccompanied Youth--Who Are They? (cont.)Who Are They? (cont.)

• 20-40% of youth in homeless situations identify 20-40% of youth in homeless situations identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (compared to 3-5% of adult population)(compared to 3-5% of adult population)

• Homeless youth are six times more likely to be Homeless youth are six times more likely to be in foster carein foster care

• 25-40% of youth who emancipate from foster 25-40% of youth who emancipate from foster care will end up homelesscare will end up homeless


McKinney-VentoMcKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance ActHomeless Assistance Act

• Reauthorized 2002 by NCLB (Title X, Part Reauthorized 2002 by NCLB (Title X, Part C)C)

• Main themes:Main themes:• School stabilitySchool stability• School accessSchool access• Support for academic successSupport for academic success• Child-centered, best interest decision Child-centered, best interest decision

makingmaking


Eligibility—Eligibility—Who is Covered?Who is Covered?

• Children who Children who lack a fixed, regular, and lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residenceadequate nighttime residence——• Sharing the housing of others due to Sharing the housing of others due to

loss of housing, economic hardship, or loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasonsimilar reason

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodationsadequate alternative accommodations

• Living in emergency or transitional Living in emergency or transitional sheltersshelters


• Awaiting foster care placementAwaiting foster care placement• Living in a public or private place not Living in a public or private place not

designed for humans to livedesigned for humans to live• Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings,

substandard housing, bus or train stations, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settingsor similar settings

• Migratory children living in aboveMigratory children living in abovecircumstancescircumstances

Eligibility— Eligibility— Who is Covered? (cont.)Who is Covered? (cont.)


Local HomelessLocal HomelessEducation LiaisonsEducation Liaisons

• Every LEA must designate a liaison for Every LEA must designate a liaison for students in homeless situationsstudents in homeless situations

• ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities• Ensure that children and youth in homeless Ensure that children and youth in homeless

situations are identified and enrolled in school, situations are identified and enrolled in school, and have full opportunity to succeed in schooland have full opportunity to succeed in school

• Link with educational services, including Link with educational services, including preschool and health servicespreschool and health services

• Inform parents, guardians and youth of education, Inform parents, guardians and youth of education, transportation and parent involvement transportation and parent involvement opportunities opportunities

• Post public notice of educational rightsPost public notice of educational rights• Resolve disputesResolve disputes


McKinney-Vento ActMcKinney-Vento ActKey ProvisionsKey Provisions

• Immediate enrollment without documents: Immediate enrollment without documents: attending classes and participating fully in attending classes and participating fully in schoolschool

• School stability: staying in the school of School stability: staying in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness and origin for the duration of homelessness and to end of year when permanently housedto end of year when permanently housed

• Transportation to the school of originTransportation to the school of origin• Eliminating barriers: to enrollment and Eliminating barriers: to enrollment and

retentionretention


McKinney-Vento ActMcKinney-Vento ActKey ProvisionsKey Provisions

• Unaccompanied youth: immediate enrollment Unaccompanied youth: immediate enrollment without legal guardian; liaison supportwithout legal guardian; liaison support

• Preschoolers: connect with Head Start and Preschoolers: connect with Head Start and other pre-K programsother pre-K programs

• No discrimination: access to needed services No discrimination: access to needed services and integrationand integration

• Title I: automatic eligibility and reservation of Title I: automatic eligibility and reservation of fundsfunds

• Dispute resolution: immediate enrollment; Dispute resolution: immediate enrollment; written notice; referral to liaisonwritten notice; referral to liaison


Safety IssuesSafety Issues

• Survivors of domestic violence: 20% of Survivors of domestic violence: 20% of violent crime against women is committed by violent crime against women is committed by an intimate partneran intimate partner

• Unaccompanied youth: many parents are Unaccompanied youth: many parents are abusive, neglectful, or unable/unwilling to abusive, neglectful, or unable/unwilling to parent their childrenparent their children

• Possibility of child abductionPossibility of child abduction• You can play a pivotal role in keeping You can play a pivotal role in keeping

children and youth safe!children and youth safe!


• Enroll children and youth experiencing Enroll children and youth experiencing homelessness immediately, as required by the homelessness immediately, as required by the McKinney-Vento Act. School is the safest place McKinney-Vento Act. School is the safest place for children who are in danger!for children who are in danger!

• Talk with parents, students and the previous Talk with parents, students and the previous school about potential dangers, and develop a school about potential dangers, and develop a safety plan together.safety plan together.

• Talk to runaway youth about their home situation Talk to runaway youth about their home situation with care and sensitivity. Understand that youth with care and sensitivity. Understand that youth may hesitate to admit that home is an unhealthy may hesitate to admit that home is an unhealthy or dangerous environment for them.or dangerous environment for them.

Safety Strategies--Safety Strategies--EnrollmentEnrollment


• Refer unaccompanied youth and domestic Refer unaccompanied youth and domestic violence survivors to counseling violence survivors to counseling resources, including school counselors resources, including school counselors and social workers.and social workers.

• Provide a “safe place” and trained mentor at Provide a “safe place” and trained mentor at school for unaccompanied youth to access as school for unaccompanied youth to access as needed.needed.

Safety Strategies--Safety Strategies--SupportSupport


• NeverNever share share anyany information about a student information about a student with anyone who cannot prove they have the with anyone who cannot prove they have the legal right to receive it.legal right to receive it.

• Make everyone requesting any information Make everyone requesting any information about a student complete and sign an about a student complete and sign an information request form, and maintain a record information request form, and maintain a record of all requests.of all requests.

• Always check the database and paper records to Always check the database and paper records to see if there is a protective order or other see if there is a protective order or other restriction to access to school records and restriction to access to school records and information.information.

Safety Strategies--Safety Strategies--PrivacyPrivacy


• Transfer school records through the State Transfer school records through the State Coordinator’s Office if necessary to restrict Coordinator’s Office if necessary to restrict information about where a student has enrolled information about where a student has enrolled in school.in school.

• If you suspect a child has been abducted or If you suspect a child has been abducted or reported missing, contact the National Center for reported missing, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com; 1-800-THE-LOST).(www.missingkids.com; 1-800-THE-LOST).

Safety Strategies--Safety Strategies--Get HelpGet Help


Group ActivityGroup Activity

Mrs. Williams arrives at school to enroll her daughter, Sandra. Mrs. Williams seems nervous and refuses to answer some of the enrollment questions. She says she does not have a permanent address right now. She also asks if the school has a security guard. Sandra just sits quietly with her mother.


Group ActivityGroup Activity

Would you enroll Sandra? How would you handle the practicalities, like entering her in the database and requesting records?

What questions might you ask Mrs. Williams to learn about her situation and Sandra’s needs?

To whom might you refer Sandra?

To whom might you refer Mrs. Williams?


Local ResourcesLocal Resources

Liaison Name and Contact InfoLiaison Name and Contact Info

State Coordinator Name and Contact InfoState Coordinator Name and Contact Info

Other local resources (helpful websites, Other local resources (helpful websites, preschools, youth programs, shelters, preschools, youth programs, shelters, housing, medical clinics, nonprofits, etc.)housing, medical clinics, nonprofits, etc.)


National ResourcesNational Resources

National Association for the Education of National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and YouthHomeless Children and Youth

http://www.naehcy.orghttp://www.naehcy.org

National Center on Homeless EducationNational Center on Homeless Educationhttp://www.serve.org/nchehttp://www.serve.org/nche

National Law Center on Homelessness & PovertyNational Law Center on Homelessness & Povertyhttp://www.nlchp.orghttp://www.nlchp.org

National Network for YouthNational Network for Youthhttp://www.nn4youth.orghttp://www.nn4youth.org


If you take onlyIf you take onlyone thing with you…one thing with you…

Enroll children and youth Enroll children and youth experiencing homelessness experiencing homelessness

immediately!immediately!

If you turn away a child or youth, If you turn away a child or youth, you may be sending them into a you may be sending them into a

dangerous situation and breaking dangerous situation and breaking the law.the law.

immediate enrollment under mckinney- vento: keeping students safe …through it all, school is...

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