Education of Homeless Children

1
Education of Homeless Children Youth

• McKinney Vento 101 The Basics
• July/August 2008

2
POP QUIZ

• What are the 4 states whose capitol city starts
  with the same letter as their state?

3
POP QUIZ - Answer

• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Dover, Delaware

4
Homelessness in AZ

• On January 30, 2007 there were 2,804 sheltered
  and unsheltered chronically homeless persons
  statewide.
• The January 30, 2007 Point-in-Time Survey
  identified the following
• 1,591 adults and children in families in
  emergency shelters
• 2,695 in transitional housing programs
• Source Current Status of Homelessness in
  Arizona 16th Annual Report December 2007.
• In Arizona there are 21,380 Homeless Children
  and Youth
• As of 07/09/08

5
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

• Originally signed into law in 1987
• 1990 amendments educational access
• 1994 amendments school choice
• Reauthorized in 2001
• Equal opportunity
• Homeless Liaisons
• Sub Grant
• Title VII portion included with NCLB in 2002
• McKinney Vento Homeless Education Assistance
  Improvements Act of 2001

6
Todays Topics

• Policies and procedures
• Identification
• Enrollment Procedures
• Educational services
• Public Notice
• Transportation
• Accountability
• Funding
• Contact Information

7
Policies Procedures
8
Policies and Procedures

• SEAs and LEAs must develop, review and revise
  their policies to remove barriers to the
  enrollment and retention of children and youth in
  homeless situations.
• 722(g)(1)(I)
• Immediate enrollment of Homeless students,
  regardless of missing documentation.
• Transportation is provided to from the school
  of origin.
• Homeless children and youths are not stigmatized
  or segregated on the basis of their status as
  Homeless.

9
Policies and Procedures

• States are prohibited from segregating homeless
  students in separate schools, separate programs
  within schools, or separate settings within
  schools.
• 722(e)(3)(A)
• Integrated Model in 600 Local Education Agencies
  (LEAs)
• Exception A state that has a separate school for
  homeless children or youths that was operated in
  fiscal year 2000 in a covered county shall be
  eligible to receive funds under this subtitle.
  (Maricopa is a covered county.)
• 722(e)(3)(B)
• Separate School model at T.J. Pappas School

10
Policies and Procedures

• (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
• 722(g)(1)(J)(ii)

11
Policies Procedures

• Questions

12
Identification
13
Identification

• Each local education agency liaison for homeless
  children and youths shall ensure that
• (i) homeless children and youths are identified
  by school personnel and through coordination
  activities with other entities and agencies
• 722(g)(6)(A)(i)

14
Identification

• The term homeless children and youth (A)means
  individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and
  adequate nighttime residence.
• 725(2)(A)
• Fixed one that is stationary, permanent, and
  not subject to change
• Regular one which is used on a regular (i.e.
  nightly) basis
• Adequate one that is sufficient for meeting
  both the physical and psychological needs
  typically met in home environments.

15
Identification

• Determinations of eligibility MUST be made on a
  case-by-case basis.
• Housing is (1) temporary and (2) due to hardship
• OR
• Housing is substandard or considered inadequate
  within the context
• OR
• Unaccompanied youth
• Not living with a parent or guardian

16
Identification

• The term homeless children and youth
• (A) Includes -
• (i) Children and youth 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 camp grounds
  due to lack of alternative adequate
  accommodations are living in emergency or
  transitional shelters are abandoned in
  hospitals or are awaiting foster care placement.

17
Identification

• (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).
• 725(2)(A-B)(i-iv)

18
Identification

• The term unaccompanied youth' includes a youth
  not in the physical custody of a parent or
  guardian.
• 725(6)

19
Identification Strategies

• Enrollment procedures
• Questionnaire
• Interviews
• Building awareness with all staff
• Bus drivers
• Teachers
• Cafeteria workers
• Etc.
• Coordination with agencies
• CPS
• Police
• Shelters
• Refugee Resettlement

20
Identification

• Undocumented children and youth have the same
  right to attend public primary and secondary
  schools as U.S. citizens and are covered by the
  McKinney-Vento Act to the same extent as other
  children and youth.
• Plyler v. Doe
• 457 U.S. 202 (1982)
• It is well established that states cannot
  exclude children who are undocumented immigrants
  from public schools, Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202
  (1982), and Proposition 200 does not attempt to
  do so.
• AG I04-010
• http//www.ag.state.az.us/opinions/2004.html

21
Identification
- As of 07/09/08
22
Identification

• Questions

23
Enrollment
24
Enrollment

• Each local education agency liaison for homeless
  children and youths shall ensure that
• (ii) homeless children and youths enroll in, and
  have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in,
  schools of that local education agency.
• 722(g)(6)(A)(ii)

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Enrollment

• Immediate
• Even without
• Birth certificates
• Not required, per ARS 15-828
• School records
• Not required, per ARS 15-828
• Immunization
• Exempt for 5 calendar days,
• per ARS 15-872 subsection H
• Children and youth have the right to enroll in
  school immediately, even if they do not have
  required documents, such as school records,
  medical records, proof of residency, or other
  documents.
• 722(g)(3)(C)(i)

26
Enrollment School Selection

• Parent/Guardian Choice
• School of Origin
• School of Residency
• Note Charters do have School of Origin
  responsibilities.

27
Enrollment School Selection

• School of Origin
• The term school of origin' means the school that
  the child or youth attended when permanently
  housed or the school in which the child or youth
  was last enrolled. 722(g)(3)(G)
• School of Residency
• The school designated for the attendance area in
  which the student currently resides.

28
Enrollment School Selection
Permanent Housing
2
1
School of Residency
School of Origin
ABC Shelter
29
Enrollment School Selection

• Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) must keep
  students in homeless situations in their school
  of origin, to the extent feasible, unless it is
  against the parents or guardians wishes.
• 722(g)(3)(B)(i)
• Students can stay in their school of origin the
  entire time they are homeless, and until the end
  of any academic year in which they move into
  permanent housing.
• 722(g)(3)(A)(i)
• 722(g)(3)(A)(i)(II)

30
Enrollment School Selection
Case Study Joe
Romero Middle School B.O.Y. Oct. 18th
CPS Move
Orlando Middle School Feb. 14 - present
IEP change
CPS Move
Konitzer School (SpEd only) Jan. 6 Feb. 14
Andrews Academy Oct. 18-Jan. 6
31
Enrollment

• Enroll students immediately and then follow up on
  details, disputes, etc.
• If a student does not have immunizations, or
  immunization or medical records, the liaison must
  immediately assist in obtaining them, and the
  student must be enrolled in school in the
  interim.
• 722(g)(3)(C)(iii)
• Enrolling schools must obtain school records from
  the previous school, and students must be
  enrolled in school while records are obtained.
• 722(g)(3)(C)(ii)
• Schools must maintain records for students who
  are homeless so they are available quickly.
• 722(g)(3)(D)

32
EnrollmentDispute Resolution

• What if you cannot agree?
• The student must be immediately admitted to the
  school of choice while the dispute is being
  resolved.
• Liaisons must ensure unaccompanied youth are
  immediately enrolled while the dispute is being
  resolved.
• Whenever a dispute arises, the parent or guardian
  must be provided with written explanation of the
  schools decision, including the right to appeal
  the decision.
• Liaisons must inform unaccompanied youth of their
  right to appeal the schools decision.
• The school must refer the child, youth, parent,
  or guardian to the school liaison to carry out
  the dispute resolution process as expeditiously
  as possible.
• Arizonas State Plan, Item 3

33
Enrollment State Level Appeal

• If dissatisfied with the resolution, he/she may
  appeal the decision to the state level.
• The appellant must submit a written State Level
  Notice of Appeal and copy of the LEAs decision
  to the Homeless Education Coordinator no later
  than seven (7) work days after receiving written
  notification of the district level or
  inter-district decision.
• http//www.ade.az.gov/schooleffectiveness/specialp
  ops/homeless/disputeresolution.asp
• Copies of all paperwork filed with the Homeless
  Education Coordinator shall be provided to all
  other parties to the proceeding.
• Within seven (7) work days, convene a panel of at
  least two (2) Arizona Department of Education
  employees. This panel shall review the entire
  record of the dispute, including any written
  statements submitted, and make a determination
  based on the child or youths best interest.
• The determination of the panel shall be final.

34
Enrollment

• Questions

35
Educational Services
36
Educational Services

• Each local education agency liaison for homeless
  children and youths, designated under paragraph
  (1)(j)(ii), shall ensure that
• Homeless families, children, and youths receive
  educational services for which such families,
  children, and youths are eligible, including Head
  Start and Even Start programs and preschool
  programs administered by the local educational
  agency, and referrals to health care services,
  dental services, mental health services, and
  other appropriate services
• 722(g)(6)(A)(iii)

37
Educational Services

• Title I
• A child or youth who is homeless and is attending
  any school in the district is automatically
  eligible for Title I services. 1115(b)(2)(E)
• This includes support services and supplemental
  educational programs such as tutoring, summer
  school, preschool, etc.
• Free and Reduced Breakfast/Lunch
• For LEAs with National School Lunch Programs
• As of 2002, USDA policy permits liaisons to
  obtain free school meals for students by
  providing a list of names of students
  experiencing homelessness with dates.
• This became law with The Child Nutrition and WIC
  Reauthorization Act of 2004
• http//www.frac.org/html/federal_food_programs/cnr
  eauthor/migrant.htm

38
Educational Services

• English Acquisition Services/ELL
• Migrant
• Gifted
• Counseling
• Head Start/Even Start
• Liaisons must ensure that families and children
  receive Head Start, Even Start programs and
  preschool programs. 722(g)(6)(A)(iii)
• Preschool
• Special Education (if eligible)

39
Statewide Services

• http//www.az211.gov/
• http//www.arizonaselfhelp.org
• http//www.azfoodbanks.org/

40
Educational Services

• Questions

41
Public Notice
Notice is 9/10 of your protection under the
law. -AGs Office
42
Public Notice

• Each local education agency liaison for homeless
  children and youths, designated under paragraph
  (1)(j)(ii), shall ensure that
• The parents or guardians of homeless children and
  youths are informed of the educational and
  related opportunities available to their children
  and are provided with meaningful opportunities to
  participate in the education of their children
• 722(g)(6)(A)(iv)
• Public notice of the educational rights of
  homeless children and youths is disseminated
  where such children and youths receive services
  under this Act such as schools, family shelters,
  and soup kitchens
• 722(g)(6)(A)(v)

43
Public Notice

• Once upon enrollment
• Twice annually
• Posters
• Newsletter
• Pamphlet
• Handbook
• Website
• In schools in community
• Notification needs to be made to all parents not
  just the homeless parents.

44
Public Notice

• Available in English Spanish from
  http//www.serve.org/nche/products.php

45
Public Notice

• Questions

46
Transportation
47
Transportation

• Each local education agency liaison for homeless
  children and youths, designated under paragraph
  (1)(j)(ii), shall ensure that
• The parent or guardian of a homeless child or
  youth, and any unaccompanied youth, is fully
  informed of all transportation services,
  including transportation to the school of origin,
  and is assisted in accessing transportation to
  the school that is selected
• 722(g)(6)(A)(vii)

48
Transportation

• Provided to and from the School of Origin
• If feasible (in the best interest of the
  student)
• At request of parent/guardian/youth
• Local educational agencies (LEAs) must provide
  students experiencing homelessness with
  transportation to and from their school of
  origin, at a parents or guardians request.
• 722(g)(1)(J)(iii)
• Note Charters have School of Origin
  responsibilities,
• but are not reimbursed for transportation miles.

49
Transportation

• School of Origin School of Residency are dually
  responsible.
• If the homeless child's or youth's living
  arrangements in the area served by the local
  educational agency of origin terminate and the
  child or youth, though continuing his or her
  education in the school of origin, begins living
  in an area served by another local educational
  agency, the local educational agency of origin
  and the local educational agency in which the
  homeless child or youth is living shall agree
  upon a method to apportion the responsibility and
  costs for providing the child with transportation
  to and from the school of origin. If the local
  educational agencies are unable to agree upon
  such method, the responsibility and costs for
  transportation shall be shared equally.
• 722(g)(1)(J)(iii)(II)

50
Osborn
3
Alhambra
Permanent Housing
1
2
Washington
School of Origin
School of Residency
Origin
Example of enrolling in School of Residency
DV Shelter
51
Osborn
3
Alhambra
Permanent Housing
1
2
Washington
School of Origin
School of Residency
Example of remaining in School of Origin
ABC Shelter
52
Transportation

• The method of transportation is an LEA decision,
  but it must be appropriate for the student and
  family.
• School bus
• Smaller school bus
• Public bus passes or tokens
• Reimburse parent for mileage
• Activity vans
• Taxi service
• Van service

53
Transportation

• Questions

54
Accountability
55
Accountability Data Collection

• Part I Data From All LEAs
• with and without McKinney-Vento Sub grants
• NUMBER OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH
• PRIMARY NIGHTIME RESIDENCE OF HOMELESS CHILDREN
  AND YOUTH
• Part 2 Data From LEAs
• with McKinney-Vento Sub grants
• NUMBER OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS SERVED BY
  MCKINNEY-VENTO SUBGRANTS
• NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECEIVING EDUCATIONAL AND
  SCHOOL SUPPORT SERVICES
• BARRIERS TO THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN
  AND YOUTH
• ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS

56
Accountability Data Collection

• For FY09 data will be collected in 1 place
• SAIS
• Every student identified as being McKinney-Vento
  eligible MUST have a NEED indicator in their
  electronic profile.
• SAIS Needs Online
• Student Management System (SASI, PowerSchools,
  etc)
• Primary Nighttime Residence
• You may NO LONGER use the Unknown field for
  Primary Nighttime Residence

57
AccountabilityMonitoring

• USED Monitoring
• Evidence that
• The LEA reviews and revises policies
• The LEA designates a liaison for homeless
  children and youth
• The LEA ensures that transportation to the school
  of origin is provided.
• The LEA reserves funds necessary to provide
  comparable services to homeless students
  attending non-Title I schools.
• The LEA has and implements a process for the
  prompt resolution of disputes
• Disputes are investigated and resolved in a
  timely manner.
• The LEA collects information on homeless children
  and youth, including their places of residence.

58
AccountabilityMonitoring

• ADE NCLB 6-Year Compliance MONITORING
• Cycle 1 Homeless Policy
• Immediate enrollment, remove barriers
• Transportation to/from School of Origin
• Non-segregation, non-stigmatization
• Cycle 4
• Liaison designated and reported to ADE
• Public Notice provided
• Title I services provided
• All levels of staff trained on requirements of
  HCY
• Referrals made to appropriate agencies for
  preschool, medical, dental, etc.
• Dispute Resolution Process

59
Accountability

• Questions

60
Funding
61
Funding
McKinney-Vento Sub Grants
Title IA Set-Asides
General Funds
McKinney-Vento Grant Awards FY02
578,982.00 FY03 828,784.00 FY04
827,848.00 FY05 1,111,293.00 FY06 1,215,871.00 F
Y07 1,262,092.00 FY08 1,245,604.00 FY09 1,187,2
80.00
62
FundingTitle IA Set Asides

• LEAs are required to set aside .5 (half of a
  percent) of their Title I allocations, or 100,
  whichever is greater, to meet the needs of HCY.
• http//www.ade.az.gov/schooleffectiveness/specialp
  ops/homeless/guidance.asp
• A local educational agency shall reserve such
  funds as are necessary under this part to provide
  services comparable to those provided to children
  in schools funded under this part to serve
  homeless children who do not attend participating
  schools, including providing educationally
  related support services to children in shelters
  and other locations where children may live
• 1113(c )(3)(A)
• Title I targets students most at risk of failing
  in school. A child who is homeless and attending
  any school in the district is eligible for Title
  I services. These schools include school wide
  programs, targeted assistance schools, and
  non-Title I schools.
• Page 32, Non Regulatory Guidance July 2004

63
FundingTitle IA Set Asides

• Suggested Uses
• To assist a homeless student with services that
  are not ordinarily provided to other Title I
  students and that are not available from other
  sources. (eye glasses, dental services, birth
  certificate, immunization, etc.)
• To provide educationally-related support services
  to children in shelters and other residential
  locations.
• To support extended-day and summer activities.
• To provide tutoring or supplemental instruction
  to students at risk of school failure.
• To provide school supplies or supplies for
  special school projects (art, home economics,
  science, etc.)
• To provide school uniforms or specialized
  clothing for participation in school activities
  (gym shoes, etc).
• To pay fees required for participation in school
  activities (field trips, snacks)

64
FundingTitle IA Set Asides

• Suggested Uses
• To meet basic needs of students experiencing
  homelessness (clothing, supplies, health
  services) so that they may participate more fully
  in school.
• To support parent involvement activities to
  assist parents in homeless situations.
• To provide outreach services to students living
  in shelters, transitional living programs,
  motels, and other temporary residences.
• To provide research-based programs that benefit
  highly-mobile students.
• To collect data on students experiencing
  homelessness as part of the overall district-wide
  data collection system.
• To provide professional development designed to
  raise awareness among educators and staff on
  homeless issues and rights.

65
FundingMcKinney Vento Grants

• 2 Competitive Processes (due August 15, 2008)
• Mini Grant up to 10,000
• Sub Grant up to 100,000 (prerequisite gt100 HCY
  in SAIS)
• Compliance eligibility
• One application per year
• Scored on 100 Point rubric
• 10 points for Budget Meeting the Need
• 90 points for Program Design
• Need
• Strategies Programs
• Evaluation
• Up to 3 bonus points for agency letters of support

66
FundingMcKinney Vento Grants

• Authorized Activities
• Tutoring, supplemental instruction
• Expedited evaluations
• Professional development
• Referral services
• Excess Transportation
• Early childhood programs
• Services and assistance
• Fees and costs to maintain records
• Training for parents
• Coordination with schools agencies
• Violence prevention
• School supplies
• Adaptation of space
• Emergency assistance

67
Funding

• Questions

68
Save-The-Date

• AZCEH State Conference
• October 27-28, 2008
• Black Canyon Conference Center Phoenix
• ADE will pay registration fee for the Liaison of
  record to attend
• NAEHCY National Conference
• October 31 - November 3, 2008
• Washington, D.C.
• http//www.naehcy.org/
• Click Annual Conference

69
Contact Information

• Frank Migali
• State Coordinator for Homeless and Refugee
  Education
• 1535 W. Jefferson, Bin 14
• Phoenix, AZ 85007
• [phone]
• frank.migali_at_azed.gov
• Arizona Department of Education Website
• http//www.ade.az.gov/schooleffectiveness/special
  pops/homeless/
• Law Guidance
• Dispute Resolution Process
• Database of Local Liaisons
• Power Point Presentation