Compliance Training

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Homeless Children YouthA School District
Responds

• Compliance Training
• for
• School
• Administrators

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• Highlights Another View

• Definitions
• Academic Achievement
• Liaison for Homeless Students
• Enrollment
• School Selection
• Transportation
• Dispute Resolution

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Federal Law
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Defines and protects the rights of homeless
students to enroll in, attend, and succeed in our
public schools
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Alabama Education Code
290-3-1-.02 Regulations Governing Public Schools.
A student who may be homeless or has an uncertain
place of residence may present themselves for
enrollment at a public school or a school
systems office.  School administrative personnel
should make a determination of the students
residential status based upon the definition in
Section 103(a) of the McKinney Act.
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The McKinney-Vento Act
What You Must Know About The Law

• Every school district is required
• to have a homeless education
• liaison

• The liaison is required by law
• to perform specific tasks

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The McKinney-Vento Act
What You Must Know About The Law

• The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act says
  that children and youth who lack a fixed,
  regular, and adequate nighttime residence are
  homeless

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The McKinney-Vento Act
Families Living Doubled Up

• When families double up because one family is
  experiencing loss of housing or economic
  hardship, the family is considered homeless

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The McKinney-Vento Act
Special Considerations

• Children in migratory families
• Children with parent(s) serving
• abroad in the military
• Unaccompanied youth not living
• with a parent or legal guardian

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The McKinney-Vento Act
Educational Stability

• Requires schools to keep children in the school
  of origin to the extent feasible, except where
  contrary to the wishes of the parent or guardian

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The McKinney-Vento Act
Educational Stability

• Child or youths right to attend their school of
  origin extends to entire duration of homelessness
• Requires removal of any barriers that contribute
  to exclusion or enrollment delay

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The McKinney-Vento Act
Immediate Access

• No documents required

• Assistance of homeless liaison
• in obtaining immunizations
• and/or medical records

• Written explanation of decision
• in dispute resolutions

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Homeless Children in Alabama
Current Estimate
10,500
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Homeless Children in Alabama

• Current Estimate
• In Mobile

2000
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Barriers to Enrollment

• Lack of transportation to or from temporary
  residence
• Lack of immunization and medical records
• Lack of school records
• State guardianship /residency requirements not
  uniformly interpreted by school
• Lack of birth certificates

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Barriers to Enrollment
Youth ages 14 and up face additional barriers to
school enrollment, for example

• Attendance policies
• Secondary school credit accrual
• Legal guardianship requirements

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Barriers to Academic Success

• Frequent mobility
• Lack of staff awareness and sensitivity
• Inability to complete school assignments
• Lack of psychological services
• Poor health and inadequate medical care
• Physical needs -- food, clothing, health care

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Why School of Origin?
WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF
MOBILITY

•  
• Students who switch schools frequently score
  lower on standardized tests (study found mobile
  students scored 20 points lower than non-mobile
  students).
• 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).

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Why School of Origin?
WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF
MOBILITY

• It takes children 4-6 months to recover
  academically after changing schools.
• Mobility during high school greatly diminishes
  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).

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Why School of Origin?
Which School Is In A Students Best Interest?

• School of origin . . .
• if it is requested and
• feasible
• -- or --
• School of residency

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Why School of Origin?
FEASIBILITY - USDE CRITERIA

•  
• Student-centered, individualized
• Age of the child/youth
•   Safety of the student
• Length of stay in shelter
• Student's need for special instructional
  programs
• Impact of commute on education
• Time remaining in the school year

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Transportation

•  
• LEAs must provide students experiencing
  homelessness with transportation to and from
  their school of origin, at a parents or
  guardians request (or liaisons
• request for unaccompanied youth).
  722(g)(1)(J)(3)

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Transportation

• School districts that provide transportation
  to the school of origin have documented increased
  attendance and increased achievement, resulting
  in increased funding to the district.

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Dispute Resolution
RESOLVING ENROLLMENT DISPUTES

•  
• Every state must establish procedures to
  promptly resolve disputes. 722(g)(1)(C)
•   The student must be immediately admitted to
  the school of choice while the dispute is being
  resolved, and transportation to the school of
  origin must be provided, upon request.
  722(g)(3)(E)(1) USDE Guidance

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Dispute Resolution
RESOLVING ENROLLMENT DISPUTES

• The school must provide a written explanation
  of its decision, including the right to appeal
  the decision (liaisons inform unaccompanied
  youth). 722(g)(3)(E)(2), 22(g)(3)(B)(3)
• The school must refer the child, youth, parent
  or guardian to the liaison to carry out the
  dispute process as expeditiously as possible.
  722(g)(3)(E)(3)

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Support for Academic Success
SPECIAL SERVICES

• Students in homeless situations must have
  access to services for which they are eligible
  (special education, programs for English
  language learners (ESL), gifted and talented
  programs, vocational/technical education, school
  nutrition programs, etc.) 723(g)(4)

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Support for Academic Success
FREE LUNCH

• The Child Nutrition Act provides categorical
  eligibility for free meals for students who are
  homeless, migrant, or served by RHYA programs.
  Liaisons and shelter directors may obtain free
  school meals for students by providing child
  nutrition staff a list of names of students and
  effective dates. (Public Law 108-265)

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Support for Academic Success
REFERRALS

• Liaisons must refer students for health,
  mental health and dental services.
  722(g)(6))(A)
• Liaisons must inform parents of the services
  available at the school and provide
  meaningful opportunities for involvement.
  722(g)(6))(A)

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Increasing Awareness
Life Is Difficult For Our Homeless Students

• Common problems

• Effects of poverty and homelessness

• Educational needs

• Emotional and social difficulties

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Increasing Awareness
Know The Possible Signs Of Homelessness . . .

• At the time of enrollment
• After a student is enrolled
• and attending classes

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Obtaining Student Data

• Student Residency Questionnaire

Routine inquiries about residency help determine
which students might be eligible for assistance
because they meet the legal definition of
homelessness
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Obtaining Student Data

• Acceptable Documents
• after Enrollment

• Proof of residency
• Birth data
• School records
• Health records and immunizations

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Uniforms

• Major Changes
• NO uniform closet
• Limited funding to purchase uniforms

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Uniforms
Please Keep In Mind

• Students cannot be denied access to school due to
  lack of uniform items, i.e. pants, shirts, belts,
  shoes
• Be prepared to assist your students with uniforms
• Operate a used uniform closet at your school
• Partner with your PTA and Partners in Education
  to purchase uniforms

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Making a Difference
Ways You Can Assist Our Students in Homeless
Situations

• Direct Assistance
• Indirect Assistance

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Making a Difference
Coordination Collaboration

• Within the school district
• Between the school district
• and the larger community

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Making a Difference
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Making a Difference
Contact Me When . . .

• You identify a student who
• needs homeless services

• Assistance is needed with
• immunizations and/or medical
• records

• Choice of schools requires
• dispute resolution

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Making a Difference
Ways Can Assist Our Students in Homeless
Situations
You

• At the time of enrollment
• When a student is leaving
• your school
• When communicating with
• homeless students and their
• families

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Upcoming Event

• Promoting a Positive Climate in a Place Called
  School Conference
• August 7, 2007
• Baker High School
• Presented by
• Frank Charles Winstead

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Education is the key to breaking the cycle of
homelessness.
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Contact Information
Homeless Education Social Workers

• Larissa Dickinson, LGSW
• lndickinson_at_mcpss.com
• 251-221-4283
• Denise Riemer, LCSW
• driemer_at_mcpss.com
• 251-221-4279
• Emergency Calls
• 251-221-4276