MPAAA Conference Sept./Oct., 2012 · September/October 2012 ... Lack of access to programs ... Homeless Student Data Collection for 2011 ‐2012 Sept./Oct. 2012 20 20. MPAAA Conference

MPAAA Conference Sept./Oct., 2012

Pam Kies-Lowe, State Coordinator for Homeless Education Michigan Department of Education 1

Pam Kies‐LoweHomeless Education Consultant

State Coordinator for Homeless Education

Susan WhitenerRegional Homeless Education Monitor

Michigan Department of Education

September/October 2012

What You Need to Know About Homelessness in Michigan*

Families comprise more than half the homeless in Michigan…

1 of every 3 homeless persons in Michigan is a child

More than half of Michigan’s homeless population is comprised of families

33% of homeless families are working poor

77% of families are homeless due to lack of affordable housing

Of homeless families, 45% reported being homeless more than once

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* Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, 2011 Factsheets

Sept./Oct. 2012



What You Need to Know About Homelessness in Michigan*Rural homelessness is not the same as urban homelessness…

37% of the rural homeless population is between the ages of 18 and 24, compared to 13% of the urban population

57% of rural homeless are part of a family (versus 45% of urban homeless)

Rural homeless is a recent phenomena – more people in rural communities report this is their first experience ever being homeless

* Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, 2007 & 2010 Factsheets

3Sept./Oct. 2012

Who is Homeless?Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence: Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

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

Living in emergency, domestic violence, or transitional shelters

Temporary foster care placement or awaiting placement

Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live or sleep

Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, under bridges, etc.

Migratory children living in above circumstances

44Sept./Oct. 2012



Homeless Student Enrollment Data –BEING UPDATED

55Sept./Oct. 2012

Homeless Enrollment SY 2009‐2010 by Nighttime Residence

66Sept./Oct. 2012



STATE HOMELESS STUDENT ACADEMIC

PERFORMANCE DATA*

Grades 3-8, Proficiency SY 07-08 SY 08-09 SY 09-10

National % Proficient in Reading 42% 54% 52%

MI % Proficient in Reading 53% 57% 70%

National % Proficient in Math 41% 53% 50%

MI % Proficient in Math 47% 61% 66%

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF MICHIGAN HOMELESS STUDENTS IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE!

*As measured by student performance on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP)

77Sept./Oct. 2012

McKinney‐Vento Grant Consortia

2011 ‐ 2014 ALL MI COUNTIES represented in

Homeless Education Grant Consortia

Over 96% of MI LEAs participating in M-V Grant Consortia

88Sept./Oct. 2012



Impact of Homelessness on Children and Youth Research shows that homeless children are more likely to suffer from:Health problems

Emotional and mental health problems

Developmental problems

4 times more likely to show delayed development.

2 times as likely to have learning disabilities as non‐homeless.

Academic performance problems

2.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in math

1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in reading

1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in spelling

99Sept./Oct. 2012

The Impact of the Foreclosure Crisis and Economic Downturn Prediction that 2 million children will lose their homes over the next 2 years due to the foreclosure crisis* Combination of job loss and housing loss

Hardest hit states – California, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio & Florida

New population of homeless families Unaware of educational rights

Ashamed and embarrassed, afraid of the stigma of homelessness

Difficult to navigate the social services system

Impact on students and schools Increased absences from school

Hungry and tired when they do attend

Unable/unwilling to pay attention, focus, participate, engage, learn

* The Economic Crisis Hits Home presents the results of a survey of local homeless education liaisons conducted by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) and First Focus between October 24 and December 10, 2008.

1010Sept./Oct. 2012



Barriers to Education forHomeless Children and Youth Enrollment requirements (lack of school records, immunizations, proof of residence and guardianship)

High mobility resulting in lack of school stability and educational continuity

Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc.

Lack of access to programs

Lack of transportation

Poor health, fatigue, hunger

Prejudice and misunderstanding

1111Sept./Oct. 2012

McKinney‐Vento Homeless Assistance Act Reauthorized in 2002 as Title X of NCLB

Main themes:

School stability

School access

Support for academic success

Child‐centered focus

Decision making in the best interest of child

1212Sept./Oct. 2012



Right to immediate enrollment even when records not present, including attending and participating fully in school activities

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

Right to receive transportation to the school of origin

Support for academic success

RIGHTS OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH

1313Sept./Oct. 2012

Do you know the name of your district’s

MV Homeless Education Liaison?

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Local McKinney‐Vento Homeless Education Liaisons Every LEA must designate a Liaison to serve students in homeless situations

Responsibilities of the Liaison: Ensure that children and youth in homeless situations

are identified and reported

Ensure that homeless students enroll in and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school (usually within one day)

Link with educational services, including Title I, preschool and health services

Link with community services, including medical, dental, mental health, etc.

1515Sept./Oct. 2012

The Duties of Local Liaisons

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Post public notice of educational rights (FREE posters at NCHE ‐http://www.serve.org/nche/products.php)

Resolve disputes

Inform parents, guardians, or youth of transportation services, including to the school of origin

Visit www.serve.org/nche for Best Practices

Liaison “Do’s and Don’ts”

School District “Do’s and Don’ts”

16Sept./Oct. 2012



Importance of Homeless Student Data Provides information about the well‐being of the community and families making up the school population

Enables districts to determine future student, school, district and community needs & improve programs

Performance data provides an objective indication of how districts are serving homeless children

Achievement data for homeless children can be used to influence policies and programs

These and other school data can be used to determine the effectiveness of programs that support students experiencing homelessness

STATE AND LEA FUNDING IS BASED ON THE COUNTS FROM STUDENT DATABASES!

1717Sept./Oct. 2012

Identifying Eligible MV StudentsWhy don’t families or students just TELL THE SCHOOL?

Students and parents may try to hide their situation because they are embarrassed by their homelessness.

Parents fear of having children taken away often prevents families from revealing their living circumstances to school officials.

Unaccompanied youth may not report their homeless status for fear of being returned to unsafe family environments.

School personnel often do not understand the nature of homelessness and its causes, or the breadth of the federal definition of homelessness.

1818Sept./Oct. 2012



Accountability Requirements –Required Data Collection for Homeless Students

Night‐time Residence

Sheltered

Unsheltered

Doubled‐Up

Hotel/Motel

Special Sub‐Populations

Special Education

English Language Learners

Migrant

Unaccompanied Youth

Number of LEAs Reporting Data

Districts WITH Homeless Grants

Districts WITHOUT Homeless Grants

Grade‐Level Breakdowns of Counts

Under 3 years old

Pre‐K through 12th grade

Out of School Youth

Academic Progress – Homeless Students

Number taking State assessments

Number scoring proficient

1919Sept./Oct. 2012

Michigan Student Data SystemHomeless Student Data Collection for 2011 ‐ 2012

2020Sept./Oct. 2012



DEFINITIONS

10. Shelters: supervised publicly or privately operated facilities designed to provide temporary living accommodations

11. Transitional Housing: temporary accommodation for homeless individuals and families provided as a step to permanent housing. Residents of transitional housing continue to be considered homeless until they move into permanent housing.

12. Awaiting Foster Care Placement OR Temporary Foster Care Placement: MDE’s policy is that a student awaiting foster care placement is defined as homeless under the McKinney‐Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Additionally, a student placed in a foster care home is considered temporarily placed, thus eligible for McKinney‐Vento services, until that student is in the foster care home for a minimum of six (6) months.


2121Sept./Oct. 2012

DEFINITIONS

13. Doubled‐Up: sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. This classification requires a case by case determination; keeping in mind, another determining factor is whether the accommodation is a “fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.”

14. Hotel/Motel: a hotel is a building or commercial establishment where people pay for lodging; a motel is a hotel intended to provide short‐term lodging for traveling motorists, usually situated close to a highway and having rooms accessible from the parking area.

15. Unsheltered: includes cars, parks, campgrounds, temporary trailers, abandoned buildings, and substandard housing. Substandard housing may be determined by local building codes, community norms, and/or as a case by case determination as to whether the accommodation is a “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”


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Unaccompanied Youth

Indicate if a student identified as homeless also meets the criteria to be considered an Unaccompanied Youth.

An unaccompanied youth is an individual who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and who fits the McKinney‐Vento definition of homeless.

Yes/No (or True/False or Boolean)

1 1 FALSE Y


2323Sept./Oct. 2012

The reason why the youth is not in the custody of a parent/guardian DOES NOT MATTER.

Our role is not to pass judgment, but to EDUCATE the child/youth.

Unaccompanied homeless youth have the same rights as any other homeless student:

Remain in their school of origin (to the extent feasible)

Transportation to and from the school of origin

Immediately enroll in a new school serving the area in which they are currently living even if they don’t have typically required documents (e.g., proof of guardianship)

Equal access to programs and services such as gifted and talented education, special education, vocational education, and English Language Learner services

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth ‐

Michigan Student Data System

2424Sept./Oct. 2012



What YOU can do to helpPupil Accounting Personnel

Pay attention to the warning signs of homelessness among students

Coordinate record‐keeping with District McKinney‐Vento Liaison Liaisons should have access to records OR receive homeless

reports

Relationships and trust are the KEY

Develop cooperative agreements between nearby districts & states so that data on highly mobile and homeless students can be shared quickly

Be consistent in use of MDE definitions for data entry

2525Sept./Oct. 2012

Attendance Officers Pay attention to the warning signs of homelessness among students

Become familiar with the locations of area shelters, transitional living programs, hotels/motels, and other locations frequently used by families and youth who are homeless

Know how to confirm eligibility for McKinney‐Vento services in a sensitive, family‐friendly and LEGAL manner

Coordinate student referrals with District McKinney‐Vento Liaison

Training on how to recognize absences that may be the result of homelessness, available services, and ways to refer students/families

Locations of area shelters, transitional living programs, hotels/motels, and other locations frequently used by families and youth who are homeless

What YOU can do to help

2626Sept./Oct. 2012



MDE Monitoring ‐ On Site ReviewsThe MDE Special Populations Unit and your Regional McKinney‐Vento Monitor will:

Monitor EVERY school district once per grant cycle (three years)

Contact each district to be visited about 3 months in advance with date and time of visit (and names/roles of team members, if more than one)

Request your MV Self Assessment and documentation be updated and submitted electronically at least 3 weeks in advanceof the visit

NOT cover all 48 questions from the Self Assessment at the visit

Close the visit with a summary report presentation – no surprises

2727Sept./Oct. 2012

Homeless Data Collection ‐ CRITICAL

Federal funding for Homeless Education Programs is based on accurate and complete data collection!

Homeless students ENROLLED – from the State student database (Michigan Student Data System – MSDS)

OTHER CRITICAL DATA REPORTS

Homeless students SERVED – from the district reports to the MV Grant Coordinator (reported in MEGS)

District records of homeless students identified, reported, served – MV Monitor will ask to see these at site visits

2828Sept./Oct. 2012



Sample Scenarios

Migrant students who return at the same time of year, but do not stay enrolled for the full school year

Refugee students not in foster care

Unaccompanied homeless youth who live with a boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s family

Unaccompanied homeless youth who return home during the school year

2929Sept./Oct. 2012

Common Questions How long can a student/family be considered “homeless?”

How far outside of district is “too far” to transport in the best interests of a homeless student?

What if I cannot obtain the homeless student’s records from a previous district?

How can the district get a student’s birth certificate?

When do I contact our MV Grant Coordinator, instead of the District Liaison?

3030Sept./Oct. 2012



Why we do what we do…“…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 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, 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.”

Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002

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September 2012 32

Questions?



Contact Information

Homeless Education Program Office

517‐241‐1162www.michigan.gov/homeless

Homeless Education ConsultantState Coordinator for Homeless Education

Pam Kies‐Lowekies‐[email protected]

33Sept./Oct. 2012

HOMELESS EDUCATION RESOURCES 1. Michigan Department of Education’s Homeless Education Program

Website: www.michigan.gov/homeless Michigan District Liaison Toolkit –SOON TO INCLUDE MDE Guidance and Forms! http://www.serve.org/nche/training.php#toolkit Key Contact: Pam Kies-Lowe Homeless Consultant/State Coordinator for Homeless Education [email protected]

2. National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE): Information by Topic - http://www.serve.org/nche/ibt/ibt.php Training Resources - http://www.serve.org/nche/training.php (Issue Briefs contain legal citations) Access to Higher Education for Homeless Youth - http://www.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php School District Liaison Toolkit - http://www.serve.org/nche/training.php#toolkit NCHE helpline at 1-800-308-2145 (toll-free) or [email protected] Key Contacts: Diana Bowman Christina Dukes Director Program Specialist [email protected] [email protected]

3. National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth: Website: http://www.naehcy.org/training.html

Key Contact: Barbara Duffield Patricia Julianelle Policy Director and LeTendre Scholarship Fund NAEHCY Counsel [email protected] [email protected]

4. National Law Center on Poverty and Homelessness:

Website: http://www.nlchp.org (Note 3rd column “Publications” listing)

Key Contact: Eric Tars NLCPH Counsel [email protected]

5. Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), Project Homeless Connect, shelter referrals Website: www.mihomeless.org/MCAH

Key Contact: Jason Weller Executive Director [email protected]

6. HEAR US, Inc Videos, books, brochures, blogs, etc. on homeless children, youth and families Website: www.hearus.us

Key Contact: Diane Nilan Founder and President [email protected]

http://www.michigan.gov/homeless

http://www.serve.org/nche/training.php#toolkit

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.serve.org/nche/ibt/ibt.php

http://www.serve.org/nche/training.php

http://www.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php

http://www.serve.org/nche/training.php#toolkit




http://www.naehcy.org/training.html



http://www.nlchp.org/


http://www.mihomeless.org/MCAH


http://www.hearus.us/


American Bar Association, Legal Center for Foster Care and Education www.abanet.org/child/education

The Legal Center FCE serves as a national technical assistance resource and information clearinghouse on legal and policy matters affecting the education of children in the foster care system. The Legal Center FCE provides expertise to states and constituents, facilitates networking to advance promising practices and reforms, and provides technical assistance and training to respond to the ever-growing demands for legal support and guidance.

National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) www.serve.org/nche

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Homeless Education is a national resource center of research and information enabling communities to successfully address the needs of homeless children and youth and their families. NCHE products include educational rights posters, parent brochures, the LEA Homeless Education Liaison Handbook, the State Coordinators' Handbook, and the NAEHCY listserv.

National Center on Family Homelessness (NCFH) www.familyhomelessness.org

NCFH is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to developing long-term solutions to family homelessness. The Center is committed to: (1) building a rigorous knowledge base in the areas of family homelessness and poverty; (2) creating model programs, service demonstrations and technical assistance products; and (3) disseminating information to increase public awareness and improve national, state, and local policies and programs.

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) www.nlchp.org/FA_Education

NLCHP monitors and enforces compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act, providing technical assistance to attorneys, service providers, parents and educators across the country to ensure that homeless children gain access to public school. The NLCHP website includes a self-advocacy kit, a flowchart for determining homelessness, reproducilble Q&A booklets, and many other materials.

National Network for Youth (NN4Y) www.nn4youth.org

The National Network for Youth is dedicated to ensuring that young people can be safe and lead healthy and productive lives. In doing so, young people are championed, especially those who because of life circumstance, disadvantage, past abuse or community prejudice have less opportunity to become contributing members of their communities.

National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness (NPACH) www.homelessnesscouncil.org

NPACH is dedicated to ending homelessness through grassroots advocacy and inclusive partnerships. NPACH works to accomplish its mission by educating the public and policymakers on the causes and consequences of homelessness, creating and advocating for appropriate federal policies in collaboration with local communities, connecting community-based organizations, schools, and work places to national anti-homelessness policy through advocacy and public education initiatives.

U.S. Department of Education: Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY) Program http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html

The U.S. Department of Education is the federal agency charged with the administration and oversight of the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youths program.

Youth Network www.youthnetwork.org

Youth Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people find youth programs and services in their communities. Their goal is to provide information about every community resource for youth in the country.

http://www.abanet.org/child/education

http://www.serve.org/nche


http://www.familyhomelessness.org/

http://www.familyhomelessness.org/

http://www.nlchp.org/FA_Education

http://www.nlchp.org/FA_Education

http://www.nn4youth.org/

http://www.nn4youth.org/

http://www.homelessnesscouncil.org/

http://www.homelessnesscouncil.org/

http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html

http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html

http://www.youthnetwork.org/

http://www.youthnetwork.org/

Who is homeless? (Sec. 725)

The term “homeless children and youth”—(A) meansindividualswholackafixed,

regular,andadequatenighttimeresidence …; and

(B) includes—(i) children and youths who are

sharing the housing of other personsduetolossofhousing,economichardship,orasimilarreason;arelivinginmotels,hotels,trailerparks,orcampinggroundsdue to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

(ii) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings …

(iii) children and youths who are living incars,parks,publicspaces,abandonedbuildings,substandardhousing,busortrainstations,orsimilar settings; and

(iv) migratorychildrenwhoqualifyashomeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

McKinney-VenTo — Law inTo PracTice

Identifying Students in Homeless Situations

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Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized by Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. This brief explains the key provisions in the Act concerning the identification of homeless children and youth and offers strategies for implementing the Act in a school district. Additional briefs on various topics in the law may be found at http://www.serve.org/nche/briefs.php.

Key Provisions

Every Local Educational Agency (LEA), otherwise known as “school district,” must designate an appropriate staff person as a local homeless education liaison. This person may also be a coordinator for other federal programs.Local liaisons must ensure that children and youth in homeless situations are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies; once these students are identified, the local liaison must ensure that they receive the services and supports they need to have equal opportunity to enroll and succeed in the district’s schools.The state McKinney-Vento plan must describe procedures that the State Educational Agency (SEA) will use to identify homeless children and youth in the state and to assess their special needs.

(See Endnotes for the text of the law.)

Children and youth experiencing homelessness are difficult to identify for many reasons and often go unnoticed by school personnel. Students and parents may try to hide their situation because they are embarrassed by their homelessness. In addition, the fear of having children taken away often prevents families from revealing their living circumstances to school officials. Unaccompanied youth may not report their homeless status for fear of being returned to unsafe family environments. Homeless children and youth who are not enrolled in school and are living in places other than shelters, such as doubled-up with another family or in a low-cost motel, are even more invisible to schools and their communities. Finally, school personnel often do not understand the nature of homelessness and its causes, or the breadth of the federal definition of homelessness (see sidebar).

Yet students must be identified as homeless if they are to receive the full protections of the McKinney-Vento Act, including the help

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Identifying Students in Homeless Situations (continued)

they need to enroll, attend, and succeed in school. The law, therefore, requires all school districts, led by the local liaison and in coordination with school personnel and other agencies, to identify students in homeless situations. Identifying students in homeless situations is also an important way to create greater awareness of homelessness in the school district and community.

Strategies for Implementation

Identify community service agencies, such as shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, transitional living programs, street outreach teams, drop-in centers, community action agencies (especially in rural areas, where there may be no shelters), welfare departments, housing departments, public health departments, and faith-based organizations. Set up meetings with them to begin to collaborate on issues such as the identification of homeless families and youth, the school enrollment process, transportation, and other student services.Contact managers of low-cost motels and campgrounds and inform them of the school enrollment assistance and other school services that are available to children and youth experiencing homelessness. Leave written materials for them and the families and youth who stay there; make sure that the contact information of the local liaison is included. Ask that they help you identify homeless families and youth by contacting you if they believe someone staying in their facilities may fit the McKinney-Vento definition.Become familiar with low-income neighborhoods, areas where young people who are out of school might congregate during the day, locations of public laundry facilities, Head Start centers, migrant housing developments, and public housing complexes. Develop relationships with people who operate services or programs in these areas and with the people who use the services.

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Provide outreach materials and posters at the above-mentioned and other facilities where there is a frequent influx of low-income families and youth in high-risk situations. Make sure that supplies of materials are always well-stocked and that the materials include information on educational rights, who is considered homeless, and a local phone number to call for school enrollment and other assistance. Posters for parents and for unaccompanied youth may be found on the NCHE website at http://www.serve.org/nche/products.php.Engage the local homeless task force, homeless coalition, and homeless assistance Continuum of Care as partners in the identification of students who are homeless. A list of resources by state can be found at http://www.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php.Compile addresses of shelters, motels, transitional living programs, and campgrounds frequently used by families and youth who are homeless, and provide these addresses to district registrars and school secretaries. Registrars and secretaries can help identify these students as homeless by the addresses they list on school paperwork and provide expedited enrollment and referrals to services they may need discreetly. Communicate with school secretaries, who are often a good source of information for students who are “doubled-up” (living temporarily with another family) or who have made numerous school transfers.Develop relationships with truancy officials and/or other attendance officers. Train truancy officers on how to recognize school absences that may be the result of homelessness. Provide officers with information so that they may refer students to appropriate services discreetly.Provide awareness activities at districtwide professional development training sessions. Invite service agency personnel and homeless families to help conduct sensitivity training

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Identifying Students in Homeless Situations (continued)

for school staff (registrars, secretaries, school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, teachers, bus drivers, administrators, etc.). Such activities should include training on how to recognize common signs of homelessness (see the Common Signs of Homelessness flyer on the next page). Use creative, yet respectful and sensitive, techniques to identify homeless unaccompanied youth, such as administering surveys to peers, using enrollment questionnaires, or providing specific outreach to areas where out-of-school students might congregate.Make special efforts to identify preschool children who are in homeless situations, including asking about younger siblings of school-age children; once identified, refer these children to local preschool programs, such as Head Start or a program administered by the school district.Provide a districtwide residency questionnaire to all students upon enrollment. Questionnaires that may indicate homelessness should be sent to the local liaison for a final determination of homeless

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status and, if affirmative, lead to the provision of referrals and other assistance. A sample residency questionnaire is included in Appendix D of the NCHE Local Homeless Liaison Toolkit at http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/toolkit/app_d.pdf.Avoid using the word “homeless” in initial contacts with school personnel, families, or youth. For many, the word “homeless” evokes stereotypical images of adults, not children or youth in classrooms. School personnel may be unlikely to recognize students who are homeless initially but often respond affirmatively when asked if they know of students who are staying temporarily with relatives or another family, are staying at campgrounds or in their car, are living at motels, or have moved several times in a year. Families and students who are homeless may not think of themselves as “homeless” because of the stigma. Therefore, outreach posters and materials placed in shelters, campgrounds, motels, and public housing projects should describe different living arrangements that qualify as homeless rather than simply refer to a person’s “homeless” status.

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Endnotes

(g) STATE PLAN-

(1) IN GENERAL- Each State shall submit to the Secretary a plan to provide for the education of homeless children and youths within the State. Such plan shall include the following:...

(B) A description of the procedures the State educational agency will use to identify such children and youths in the State and to assess their special needs.

(J) Assurances that--(ii) local educational agencies will designate an appropriate staff person, who may also be a coordinator for other Federal

programs, as a local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths, to carry out the duties described in paragraph (6)(A); and

(6) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY LIAISON-

(A) DUTIES- Each local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths, designated under paragraph (1)(J)(ii), shall ensure that--

(i) homeless children and youths are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies;

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Sec. 722; 42 U.S.C. 11432

Note: While these are considered common signs, please recognize that they only offer general guidance. There is significant variability within the school-age homeless population. Individual students may differ significantly from the following general characteristics.

Lack of Continuity in Education

■ Attendance at many different schools■ Lack of records needed to enroll■ Inability to pay fees■ Gaps in skill development■ Mistaken diagnosis of abilities■ Poor organizational skills■ Poor ability to conceptualize

Poor Health/Nutrition

■ Lack of immunizations and/or immunization records

■ Unmet medical and dental needs■ Respiratory problems■ Skin rashes■ Chronic hunger (may hoard food)■ Fatigue (may fall asleep in class)

Transportation and Attendance Problems

■ Erratic attendance and tardiness■ Numerous absences■ Lack of participation in after-school activities■ Lack of participation in field trips■ Inability to contact parents

Poor Hygiene

■ Lack of shower facilities/washers, etc.■ Wearing same clothes for several days■ Inconsistent grooming

Lack of Personal Space After School

■ Consistent lack of preparation for school■ Incomplete or missing homework (no place to

work or keep supplies)■ Unable to complete special projects (no access to

supplies)■ Lack of basic school supplies■ Loss of books and other supplies on

a regular basis■ Concern for safety of belongings

Social and Behavioral Concerns

■ A marked change in behavior■ Poor/short attention span■ Poor self-esteem■ Extreme shyness■ Unwillingness to risk forming

relationships with peers and teachers■ Difficulty socializing at recess■ Difficulty trusting people■ Aggression■ “Old” beyond years■ Protective of parents■ Clinging behavior■ Developmental delays■ Fear of abandonment■ School phobia (student wants to

be with parent)■ Anxiety late in the school day

Reaction/Statements by Parent, Guardian, or Child

■ Exhibiting anger or embarrassment when asked about current address

■ Mention of staying with grandparents, other relatives, friends, or in a motel, or comments, such as■ “I don’t remember the name of the last school.”■ “We’ve been moving around a lot.”■ “Our address is new; I can’t remember it”■ “We’re staying with relatives until we get

settled.”■ “We’re going through a bad time.”

Common signs adapted from flyers developed by the Illinois and Pennsylvania Departments of Education. For more information on homeless education, visit the National Center for Homeless

Education website at http://www.serve.org/nche.

Common Signs of Homelessness

Local Contact Information:

Every state is required to have a State Coordinator for Homeless Education, and every school district is required to have a local homeless education liaison. These individuals will assist you with the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act. To find out who your State Coordinator is, visit the

NCHE website at http://www.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php.

For more information on the McKinney-Vento Act and resources for implementation, call the NCHE Helpline at 800-308-2145 or e-mail [email protected].

This brief was developed collaboratively by:

National Center for Homeless Education 800-308-2145 (Toll-free Helpline)


National Association for the Education of Children and Youthhttp://www.naehcy.org

National Law Center on Homelessness and Povertyhttp://www.nlchp.org

Updated Winter 2008

NCHE is supported by the U.S. Department of Education Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs.

BEST PRACTICES IN HOMELESS EDUCATIONConfirming Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Services:

Do’s and Don’ts for School Districts

Who is homeless?(McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 – Title X, Part C of the No Child Left Behind Act – Sec 725)

The term “homeless children and youth”—

A. means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence…; and

B. includes —

i. children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

ii. children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings…

iii. children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

iv. migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

�

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, schools must identify children and youth in homeless situations and provide appropriate services. One such service is immediate enrollment in school, even when students lack paperwork normally required for enrollment, such as school records, proof of guardianship, a birth certificate, immunization or other health records, and proof of residence. In complying with the immediate enrollment mandate, some school districts may be concerned that families or youth may claim falsely to be homeless in order to gain access to services for which they are not eligible or to gain enrollment in a school outside of their local attendance area.

Due to the stigma associated with homelessness, the vast majority of students seeking eligibility for services under McKinney-Vento does so in good faith and with good reason. If a question arises about a student’s eligibility, schools may wish to confirm the details of the student’s living situation. All such efforts must be grounded in sensitivity and respect, keeping the academic well-being and best interest of the student in the forefront. Using invasive or threatening techniques to confirm a student’s eligibility can humiliate families and youth and may place an already tenuous temporary living arrangement in jeopardy. This may destabilize the family or youth further and may create a barrier to the student’s enrollment, thereby violating the McKinney-Vento Act. Additionally, employing these techniques may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).�

Use the following checklists to guide you in confirming McKinney-Vento eligibility. If you have questions about a student’s eligibility, enroll the student immediately and contact your school district’s local homeless education liaison or your State Coordinator for Homeless Education for further information.2 Delaying the enrollment of a homeless student violates federal law and may place the student in danger.

DO...

Do talk with parents and youth

Talk with parents and youth about their living situation, focusing on basic questions such as, “Why did you leave your last residence?” or “Where did you sleep last night?”

2

Let them know you are asking questions of a personal nature to determine if they are eligible for additional services. Avoid using the word “homeless” in initial conversations due to the associated stigma; instead, use terminology such as “in a temporary living arrangement”.

Share information about McKinney-Vento services, rights, and definitions when a parent or youth cannot provide proof of residency, guardianship, or other documentation, or when they display other possible indicators of homelessness.

Work with parents, youth, and caregivers to determine if they are able to provide any documents that could confirm their living situation. Keep in mind that the McKinney-Vento Act prohibits schools from requiring documents for school enrollment.

Homeless verification can be handled in such a way that it does not violate privacy or jeopardize housing arrangements. It is up to the local liaison, enrollment staff, and/or other school personnel to be sensitive and discreet.

Do put good policies and procedures in place

Implement the usage of a district-wide enrollment questionnaire that incorporates informative, yet non-invasive, questions to help enrollment staff determine eligibility. Samples of forms in use around the country can be found at http://www.serve.org/nche/forum/eligibility.php.

Have parents, youth, or caregivers sign enrollment forms indicating that McKinney-Vento services are offered based on information they have provided about their living situation. The forms should explain the consequences for providing false information. A sample enrollment packet is available at http://www.serve.org/nche/products_list.php#liaison_toolkit.

Having school officials visit the place where the student is staying can be threatening to homeless families and youth, who may fear discrimination or negative social service intervention, and to host families, who may be putting their own housing at risk by sheltering others. When these visits are necessary due to doubts about McKinney-Vento eligibility, send school or school district staff members who are trained on the McKinney-Vento Act and homelessness. It is important for visitors to talk to families and youth about why they are visiting, ensure them that information will be kept confidential, and conduct only the minimal investigation necessary to verify the living situation.

Contact the student’s prior school to determine if the student was identified as homeless there.

Install Caller ID on the local liaison’s phone, so that the local liaison can verify when parents or youth are calling from a motel.

Keeping it positive and supportive instead of invasive and threatening is essential.

DON’T...

Don’t threaten or harass parents or students, violate their privacy, or jeopardize their housing

Don’t contact landlords or housing agencies about a student or family. Such contacts may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the McKinney-Vento Act and may jeopardize already tenuous housing situations. In addition, these contacts generally do not provide useful information.

Don’t conduct invasive surveillance of students or families, such as following them, observing them from outside their residences, or talking to neighbors about their living situation. The McKinney-Vento Act requires schools to eliminate barriers to enrollment and attendance; acts that may threaten or intimidate create barriers that can frighten parents and students away from school. School staff trained on issues of homelessness and the McKinney-Vento Act can conduct respectful home visits, when necessary.

Don’t use police officers to conduct home visits.

Don’t pose barriers to enrollment

Don’t require documents like eviction notices, utility bills, occupancy permits, or notarized letters from host families. The McKinney-Vento Act prohibits schools from requiring documents for school enrollment.

Don’t force caregivers to obtain legal custody or guardianship to enroll youth. The McKinney-Vento Act requires school districts to have procedures to enroll unaccompanied youth immediately; legal custody or guardianship cannot be prerequisites. Furthermore, custody and guardianship have important legal consequences far beyond education and are not appropriate for many caregiver relationships.

Don’t force people into shelters or onto the streets as a prerequisite for McKinney-Vento services.

In sum, a school district’s attempts to verify a student’s eligibility for McKinney-Vento services must be governed by respect, sensitivity, and reasonable limits. When in doubt, the district must always enroll the student immediately and should seek support from the local liaison or State Coordinator for Homeless Education.

Endnotes1. For more information on FERPA, visit http://www.serve.org/nche/legis_resources.php.2. Visit http://www.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php to find contact information for your State

Coordinator.

�


Every state is required to have a State Coordinator for Homeless Education, and every school district is required to have a local homeless education liaison. These individuals will assist you with the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act. To find out who your State Coordinator is, visit the NCHE website at http://www.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php.


This brief was developed by:

National Center for Homeless Education800-308-2145 (Toll-free Helpline)


Summer 2007

NCHE is supported by the U.S. Department of EducationStudent Achievement and School Accountability Programs.

Potential Warning Signs of Homelessness Note: While these are considered warning signs, please recognize that they only offer general guidance. There is significant variability within the school-age homeless population. Individual students may differ significantly from the following general characteristics. Lack of Continuity in Education

• Attendance at many different schools • Lack of personal records needed to enroll • Inability to pay fees • Gaps in skill development • Mistaken diagnosis of abilities • Poor organizational skills • Poor ability to conceptualize

Poor Health/Nutrition • Lack of immunizations and/or immunization records • Unmet medical and dental needs • Increased vulnerability to colds & flu • Respiratory problems • Skin rashes • Chronic hunger (may horde food) • Fatigue (may fall asleep in class)

Transportation and Attendance Problems • Erratic attendance and tardiness • Numerous absences • Lack of participation in after-school activities • Lack of participation in field trips • Absences on days when students bring special treats from home • Inability to contact parents

Poor Hygiene • Lack of shower facilities/washers, etc. • Wearing same clothes for several days • Inconsistent grooming – well-groomed one day and poorly groomed the next

Lack of Privacy/Personal Space After School • Consistent lack of preparation for school • Incomplete or missing homework (no place to work or keep supplies) • Unable to complete special projects (no access to supplies) • Lack of basic school supplies • Loss of books and other supplies on a regular basis • Concern for safety of belongings • Refusing invitations from classmates

Social and Behavioral Concerns • A marked change in behavior • Poor/short attention span • Poor self esteem • Extreme shyness • Unwillingness to risk forming

relationships with peers and teachers • Difficulty socializing at recess • Difficulty trusting people • Aggression • “Old” beyond years

• Protective of parents • Clinging behavior • Developmental delays • Fear of abandonment • School phobia (student wants to be with

parent) • Need for immediate gratification • Anxiety late in the school day

Reaction/Statements by Parent, Guardian, or Child • Exhibiting anger or embarrassment when asked about current address • Mention of staying with grandparents, other relatives, friends, or in a motel or comments,

such as: - “I don’t remember the name of our previous school.” - “We’ve been moving around a lot.” - “Our address is new; I can’t remember it.” (may hide lack of permanent address) - “We’re staying with relatives until we get settled.” - “We’re going through a bad time right now.” - “We’ve been unpacking, traveling, etc.,” to explain poor appearance and/or hygiene.

(These warning signs were adapted from flyers developed by Illinois and Pennsylvania Departments of Education)

BEST PRACTICES IN HOMELESS EDUCATIONConfirming Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Services:

Do’s and Don’ts for Local Liaisons

Who is homeless?(McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001 – Title X, Part C of the No Child Left Behind Act – Sec 725)

The term “homeless children and youth”—

A. means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence…; and

B. includes —

i. children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

ii. children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings…

iii. children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

iv. migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

�

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, schools must identify children and youth in homeless situations and provide appropriate services. One such service is immediate enrollment in school, even when students lack paperwork normally required for enrollment, such as school records, proof of guardianship, a birth certificate, immunization or other health records, and proof of residence. In complying with the immediate enrollment mandate, some school districts may be concerned that families or youth may claim falsely to be homeless in order to gain access to services for which they are not eligible or to gain enrollment in a school outside of their local attendance area.

Due to the stigma associated with homelessness, the vast majority of students seeking eligibility for services under McKinney-Vento does so in good faith and with good reason. If a question arises about a student’s eligibility, schools may wish to confirm the details of the student’s living situation. All such efforts must be grounded in sensitivity and respect, keeping the academic well-being and best interest of the student in the forefront. Using invasive or threatening techniques to confirm a student’s eligibility can humiliate families and youth and may place an already tenuous temporary living arrangement in jeopardy. This may destabilize the family or youth further and may create a barrier to the student’s enrollment, thereby violating the McKinney-Vento Act. Additionally, employing these techniques may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).�

Use the following checklists to guide you in confirming McKinney-Vento eligibility. Instruct school personnel with questions about a student’s eligibility to enroll the student immediately and contact you for further information. If you are in need of guidance, contact your State Coordinator for Homeless Education.2 Delaying the enrollment of a homeless student violates federal law and may place the student in danger.

DO...

Do conduct ongoing awareness activities in the school district

Provide annual awareness and sensitivity training to all school staff, including administrators, counselors, social

workers, teachers, secretaries, registrars, nurses, bus drivers, security staff, attendance officers, and federal programs staff. A sample PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded at http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/tr_pres/info_share.ppt; a sample online training can be found at http://servepres.serve.org/p33447103/.

Train bus drivers on the McKinney-Vento Act and ask them to notify you if a student identified as eligible for McKinney-Vento services does not appear to be living near the bus pick-up location.

Develop relationships with shelters, transitional housing organizations, and local discount motels/hotels to assist in identifying homeless students and/or confirming a student’s living arrangement.

Do put good policies and procedures in place

Implement the usage of a district-wide enrollment questionnaire that incorporates informative, yet non-invasive, questions to help enrollment staff determine eligibility. Samples of forms in use around the country can be found at http://www.serve.org/nche/forum/eligibility.php.

Have parents, youth, or caregivers sign enrollment forms indicating that McKinney-Vento services are offered based on information they have provided about their living situation. The forms should explain the consequences for providing false information. A sample enrollment packet is available at http://www.serve.org/nche/products_list.php#liaison_toolkit.

Having school officials visit the place where the student is staying can be threatening to homeless families and youth, who may fear discrimination or negative social service intervention, and to host families, who may be putting their own housing at risk by sheltering others. When these visits are necessary due to doubts about McKinney-Vento eligibility, send school or school district staff members who are trained on the McKinney-Vento Act and homelessness. It is important for visitors to talk to families and youth about why they are visiting, ensure them that information will be kept confidential, and conduct only the minimal investigation necessary to verify the living situation.

Homeless verification can be handled in such a way that it does not violate privacy or jeopardize housing arrangements. It is up to the local liaison, enrollment staff, and/or other school personnel to be sensitive and discreet.

Collaborate with local homeless education liaisons from nearby school districts to identify children and youth in homeless situations and confirm eligibility.

Contact the student’s prior school to determine if the student was identified as homeless there.

Install Caller ID on your phone, so that the you can verify when parents or youth are calling from a motel.

Consult the State Department of Revenue to determine if an address given as temporary 2

�

was the family’s registered address the previous year.

Collaborate with your State Coordinator for Homeless Education for technical assistance and support in ensuring immediate enrollment.

Keeping it positive and supportive

instead of invasive and threatening is essential.

Do talk with parents and youth

Talk with parents and youth about their living situation, focusing on basic questions such as, “Why did you leave your last residence?” or “Where did you sleep last night?” Let them know you are asking questions of a personal nature to determine if they are eligible for additional services. Avoid using the word “homeless” in initial conversations due to the associated stigma; instead, use terminology such as “in a temporary living arrangement”.

Share information about McKinney-Vento services, rights, and definitions when a parent or youth cannot provide proof of residency, guardianship, or other documentation, or when they display other possible indicators of homelessness.

Work with parents, youth, and caregivers to determine if they are able to provide any documents that could confirm their living situation. Keep in mind that the McKinney-Vento Act prohibits schools from requiring documents for school enrollment.

Talk to runaway youth about their home situation with care and sensitivity. Understand that although youth may hesitate to admit it, their home may be an unhealthy or dangerous environment.

DON’T...

Don’t threaten or harass parents or students, violate their privacy, or jeopardize their housing

Don’t contact landlords or housing agencies about a student or family. Such contacts may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the McKinney-Vento Act and may jeopardize already tenuous housing situations. In addition, these contacts generally do not provide useful information.

Don’t conduct invasive surveillance of students or families, such as following them, observing them from outside their residences, or talking to neighbors about their living situation. The McKinney-Vento Act requires schools to eliminate barriers to enrollment and attendance; acts that may threaten or intimidate create barriers that can frighten parents and students away from school. School staff trained on issues of homelessness and the McKinney-Vento Act can conduct respectful home visits, when necessary.

Don’t use police officers to conduct home visits.

Don’t pose barriers to enrollment

Don’t require documents like eviction notices, utility bills, occupancy permits, or notarized

letters from host families. The McKinney-Vento Act prohibits schools from requiring documents for school enrollment.

Don’t force caregivers to obtain legal custody or guardianship to enroll youth. The McKinney-Vento Act requires school districts to have procedures to enroll unaccompanied youth immediately; legal custody or guardianship cannot be prerequisites. Furthermore, custody and guardianship have important legal consequences far beyond education and are not appropriate for many caregiver relationships.

Don’t force people into shelters or onto the streets as a prerequisite for McKinney-Vento services.

In sum, a school district’s attempts to verify a student’s eligibility for McKinney-Vento services must be governed by respect, sensitivity, and reasonable limits. When in doubt, the district must always enroll the student immediately and should seek support from the local liaison or State Coordinator for Homeless Education.

Endnotes1. For more information on FERPA, visit http://www.serve.org/nche/legis_resources.php.2. Visit http://www.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php to find contact information for your State

Coordinator.


Every state is required to have a State Coordinator for Homeless Education, and every school district is required to have a local homeless education liaison. These individuals will assist you with the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act. To find out who your State Coordinator is, visit the NCHE website at http://www.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php.


This brief was developed by:

National Center for Homeless Education800-308-2145 (Toll-free Helpline)


Summer 2007

NCHE is supported by the U.S. Department of EducationStudent Achievement and School Accountability Programs.

Documents

MPAAA Conference Sept./Oct., 2012 · September/October 2012 ... Lack of access to programs ... Homeless Student Data Collection for 2011 ‐2012 Sept./Oct. 2012 20 20. MPAAA Conference