Title: Getting It Right: Educating Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness * * This McKinney-Vento 101 presentation was developed by the Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO)
1Getting It Right Educating Children and Youth
Experiencing Homelessness This
McKinney-Vento 101 presentation was developed by
the Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO)
- The Texas McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless
Children and Youths (EHCY) Program is sponsored
by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Region
10 Education Service Center, and the Texas
Homeless Education Office (THEO)at the Charles
A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at
Austin
2Welcome
- This presentation provides in-depth
information on the McKinney-Vento Act, also known
as Title X, Part C, of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act. It is designed to be
self-paced, allowing the learner to spend as much
time as necessary to grasp the concepts
presented. - Should you have questions or need
clarification as you review this information,
please contact the Texas Homeless Education
Office at 1-800-446-3142. -
3How many Khadijahs are in your school?
For almost all of my life, I have never had a
place to call home. I have questioned why I have
to struggle so hard to succeed while others do
not have to question whether they will go to
college. However, there is one thing I have never
questioned My education. My life and
circumstances have given me life skills, that in
turn, have helped make me into the driven and
passionate student I am today. Khadijah
WilliamsHarvard University Class of 2014
4Contributing Factors to Homelessness
Lack of affordable housing
- Lack or loss of economic support networks
- Lack or loss of social support networks
5How many individuals experience homelessness in
TX?
Texas estimate . . .
79,000 Texas Homeless Network, 2012
on any given night.
6Challenges of living inhomeless situations
Loss of control and independence
7Do young children and olderyouth become homeless?
- 1.7 million youth run away from home each year.
- High rates of abuse, neglect, parental substance
abuse, family dysfunction - 51 of all children in shelters are under the age
of 6.
8How many children and youth experience
homelessness?
- The Urban Institute estimates that approximately
10 of all children experiencing poverty will
experience homelessness in a year - Nationwide, 1,065,794 homeless students
identified by public schools in SY 2011-2012
9How many children and youth experience
homelessness in TX?
53,200 2007-2008
Texas homeless students served by academic year
as reported by the Texas Education Agency. . . .
80,940 2008-2009
76,095 2009-2010
85,155 2010-2011
95,868 2011-2012
Over 101,607
10How many children and youth experience
homelessness in TX?
- According to the 2010 TEXAS census data
1,584,000 children lived below poverty level in
TX - 10 would be 158,400
- Actual likely between 160,000 and 180,000(some
estimates as high as 320,000)
11Helpful Demographics for Local Region/ISD to
Research and Have on Hand
Sources
www.city-data.com/housing/houses.html Out
of Reach, National Low Income Housing Coalition
_at_ nlihc.org
Population Population Growth
Households Median Age
Median Income Unemployment Rate
Median Home Value
Poverty Rate
Child Poverty Rate
Rental Rates 1 BR 2 BR TX 2 BR
826 14.97/hr. x 42 x 52 1.1 wage
earners OR 2.2 min wage earners
Children ISD In
Poverty Homeless Identified
12Children are Homeless
Children experiencinghomelessness experiencethe
trauma of loss
- home / room / neighborhood /
- family members / school / community /
possessions / security / safety / - self esteem / predictable routines
13Address Effects of Trauma on Homeless Children
and Families
- Enable good decision- making by the parent /
caregiver / unaccompanied youth - Help students recover from traumatic events
- Preserve the best interest of the child or
youth
14The Challenge Before Us
- Children living in homeless situations may
perform two to three years below grade level in
school. - For many children, every move costs them as much
as 4-6 months of academic progress. - Casey Family Programs
15Cycle of Homelessness
Source Mary Ann Weinacht, Ed.D., Assoc.
Professor Mary Nan Aldridge, Ph.D., Professor,
Sul Ross State University
Job Family Life Mental/Physical Health Safety
16When is a person no longer considered homeless?
When they become Permanently Housed.
- Develop a working definition for district
procedures - Challenges of doubled-up families may remain
homeless for months and even years
17Schools were not designed to serve homeless
students!
- We have to adjust our schools to meet the
situations in whichthese children and youth are
living.
18McKinney-Vento Act
- Major Requirements
- School access enrolling students
- School stability attending school remaining in
same school while mobile - Support academic success
- Child-centered, best-interest decision-making
- Case-by-case determinations of homeless status
- Critical role of the homeless liaison determines
- homeless status among other duties
19McKinney-Vento Liaisons
- The Key to McKinney-Vento Act implementation
- Every school district must designate a liaison
who is in charge of implementing the
McKinney-Vento Act. - The liaison ensures identification, enrollment,
transportation, services, dispute resolution, and
awareness. - The liaison works in coordination with all the
schools in the district, as well as the community.
20McKinney-Vento Liaisons
A directory of liaisons is located on the Texas
Homeless Education website at www.utdanacenter.or
g/theo
21EligibilityWho is Coveredby the McKinney-Vento
Act?
- Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence, including - Sharing the housing of others due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or similar reason - 80 of identified homeless children and youth in
Texas - Where would you go if you couldnt stay here?
- What led you to move in to this situation?
22EligibilityWho is Coveredby the McKinney-Vento
Act?
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping
grounds due to lack of adequate alternative
accommodations - Motels 5.5 of identified homeless children
and youth in Texas - Living in emergency or transitional shelters
- 11.5 of identified homeless children and youth
in Texas - Living in a public or private place not designed
for humans to live sheds, bus stations, etc.
23EligibilityWho is Coveredby the McKinney-Vento
Act?
- Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings,
substandard housing, bus or train stations, or
similar settings - 3 of identified homeless children and youth
in Texas - Migratory/migrant children living in above
circumstances - Awaiting foster care placement
- Relatively restrictive definition in Texas
24EligibilityWho is Coveredby the McKinney-Vento
Act?
- Undocumented children and youth have the same
right to attend public school as U.S. citizens
(Plyler vs. Doe) and are covered by the
McKinney-Vento Act - Challenges of multiple definitions of
homelessness that do not pertain to the education
arena i.e., HUD definition differs from
education definition
25EligibilityWho is Coveredby the McKinney-Vento
Act?
fixed . Securely placed or fastened. Not
subject to change or fluctuation. A fixed
residence is one that is stationary, permanent,
and not subject to change. Inhabitant One
who, although he may not be a citizen, dwells or
resides in a place permanently or has a fixed
residence therein, as distinguished from an
occasional lodger or visitor. Domicile The
place where a person has his true fixed permanent
home and principal establishment, and to which
place he has, whenever he is absent, the
intention of returning, and from which he has no
present intention of moving.
26EligibilityWho is Coveredby the McKinney-Vento
Act?
regular . Normal, standard. Constituted,
conducted, or done in conformity with established
or prescribed usages, rules, or discipline.
Recurring, attending, or functioning at fixed or
uniform intervals. Consistent. A regular
residence is one which is used on a regular
(i.e., nightly) basis. Habitual By habit
constant customary, accustomed, usual common
ordinary regular familiar.
27EligibilityWho is Coveredby the McKinney-Vento
Act?
- adequate .
- Sufficient for a specific requirement.
Lawfully and reasonably sufficient. - Fully sufficient equal to what is required
lawfully and reasonably sufficient. - An adequate residence is one that is sufficient
for meeting both the physical and psychological
needs typically met in home environments.
28Determining Eligibility
- Some instances are clear others require judgment
call - Use fixed, regular, and adequate as your
standard - Follow a process
- Get the facts
- Analyze the facts
- Is the living situation listed in the MV
definition? - Is the living situation another kind of situation
that is not fixed, regular, and adequate?
29Determining Eligibility
- Doubled-up situations Sharing the housing of
others due to loss of housing, economic hardship,
or a similar reason - Why did the family/friends move in together?
- How permanent is the arrangement meant to be?
- Is it fixed, regular, and adequate?
- Awaiting foster care placement
- Collaborate with your local child welfare
community - Consider whether the placement is temporary /
emergency or intended to be permanent
30Determining Eligibility
- Substandard housing
- Communities vary evaluate housing according to
local standards/norms, e.g., building codes,
definition of substandard, etc. - Sample considerations
- Health and safety concerns
- Number of occupants per square foot
- Age of occupants
- State and local building codes
- Collaborate with local housing agencies to
establish guidelines that incorporate state and
local legal requirements and community standards.
31Determining Eligibility
- Case-by-case, by the liaison
- Determining Eligibility brief on THEO website
- Get as much information as possible
- Sensitivity Avoid the word homeless
alternatives include temporary living situation
or in transition - Student Residency Questionnaire
- www.utdanacenter.org/theo/downloads/factsheets/RP1
4_SRQ.doc
32Identification
- All homeless children and youth must be
identified - The Urban Institute estimates that approximately
10 of all children experiencing poverty will
experience homelessness in a year - Nationwide, school districts are reporting
increases in the number of children in homeless
situations
33Identifying EligibleChildren and Youth
- Identification is critical
- It affects state and local funding
- Its the law
- It affects students eligibility for a wide
variety of services - Refer to the Identification Checklist on the THEO
website
34Ideas for Identification
- Outreach is key posters, key contacts (schools,
shelters, hotels, motels, campgrounds, law
enforcement, food banks, medical clinics, banks) - Make schools welcoming environments
- Raise school staff awareness of homelessness
- MV information in district handbooks/websites
- Database of student addresses
35Identification Strategies
- Provide training for a wide variety of ISD and
school staff. - Use a Student Residency Questionnaire upon
enrollment of all students. - Provide outreach materials and posters in schools
and where there is a frequent influx of
low-income families and youth in high-risk
situations. - http//www.utdanacenter.org/theo/resources/posters
.php
36Required Posting and Notification
The McKinney-VentoAct requires publicnotice of
educational rights of children and youth
experiencing homelessness disseminated inevery
school districtat every campus --and wherever
servicesare accessed.
37Identification Strategies
- Coordinate with community service agencies,
particularly agencies serving youth - Ask early childhood and preschool providers for
help - Make sure data entry and database managers know
how to enter and maintain information in the
PEIMS database - Understand the PEIMS homeless status and
unaccompanied youth status indicators
38The Basics on PEIMS Coding Homeless Youth
Indicator
All students in Texas public schools MUST have an
indicator selected for their homeless status
- 0 default PEIMS status NOT homeless
- 1 living in a shelter homeless
- 2 living doubled-up homeless
- 3 unsheltered homeless
- 4 living in a hotel, motel homeless
39The Basics on PEIMS Coding Homeless Youth
Indicator
Unsheltered is defined as a nighttime residence
that is a public or private place not designed
for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping
accommodation for human beings. It includes such
places as cars, parks, campgrounds (if they live
there because they lack an alternative
accommodation), abandoned buildings, and
substandard housing. Substandard housing may be
determined by local building codes, community
norms, and/or a case-by-case determination as to
whether the accommodation is a fixed, regular,
and adequate nighttime residence.
40The Basics on PEIMS CodingUnaccompanied
Homeless Youth Indicator
- MV defines UY as a youth not in the physical
custody of a parent or guardian - Living arrangements must meet the Acts
definition of homeless to qualify for
McKinney-Vento services and be coded in PEIMS - No lower age limit upper age limit to be
considered a youth is 21 (students may attend
until age 26, the states upper age limit for
public education) - Can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was
asked to leave the home or chose to leave
41The Basics on PEIMS CodingUnaccompanied
Homeless Youth Indicator
- 0 Homeless Student is not unaccompanied at any t
ime during the current school yea. - 1 Homeless Student is unaccompanied (i.e., is no
t in the physical custody of a parent or legal
guardian) and received services under the
McKinney-Vento program at any time during the
current school year. Only districts that receive
a MV subgrant will use a 1 to code students. - 2 Homeless Student is unaccompanied (i.e., is no
t in the physical custody of a parent or legal
guardian) and did NOT receive services under the
McKinney-Vento program at any time during the
current school year
42Who needs to knowa students homeless status?
- Anyone who can aid the students enrollment,
attendance, or success in school - FERPA considerations
- District policies
43What happens after astudent is identified?
- Appropriate follow-up to assure enrollment,
attendance, and success in school - Provide interventions for students with
attendance or academic performance issues - Provide transportation and other support
strategies
44When is a person no longer considered homeless?
When they become Permanently Housed
- Develop a working definition for district
procedures - Recommend time-frames to consider
- Doubled-up families may be homeless for
extended periods of times
45Length of eligibility for MV
- Once identified, students are eligible for
services for the duration of the school year,
even if they become permanently housed (includes
foster care children if identified as homeless
prior to the end of the school year) - OR
- For the duration of homelessness
45
46Length of eligibility for MV
- Currently identified students should not roll
to next years identification list without proper
verification - Homeless status is determined on an annual basis
or as needed during the school year - Status can change quickly fire, natural
disaster, loss of employment, eviction, etc.
46
47How McKinney-Vento Comes into Play with Children
in Foster Care
- When McKinney-Vento applies to children involved
with CPS - When a McKinney-Vento-type provision exists for
children in foster care Fostering Connections
some state laws - When McKinney-Vento does not apply and no similar
provision exists for children in foster care
48When McKinney-Vento Applies
- When child is awaiting foster care placement
federal MV language - Children in CPS custody in certain particularly
unstable placements are considered McKinney
eligible, i.e., ran away from foster placement,
in a shelter or transitional living program - Children in care under a safety plan will
likely qualify - Children with a 2085FC will likely NOT qualify
49When McKinney-Vento Applies
- Awaiting foster care
- In a shelter
- Ran away from foster care and living in
ahomeless situation NOT in another foster home - Aged out and is living in a homeless situation
- Other - living in a homeless situation
50When McKinney-VentoDoes Not Apply
-
- When children are in foster care they are not
awaiting foster care placement and therefore
are not McKinney-Vento eligible - Texas discerns between formal and informal
out-of-home care
51Substitute and Foster Care
- Substitute Care Care of childrenoutside
immediate family - Formal processes - not homeless(foster home,
group home, residential treatment centers,
kinship care, adoption, legal guardianship) - Informal processes - homeless(relative care,
non-relative care, shelter care, transitional
living, unaccompanied youth who meet M-V
guidelines)
52Substitute and Foster Care
- Does CPS have custody/ward of state?
- Is the home licensed or certified?
- Is it a kinship or foster home?
- Has there been a home study?
- Is the family receiving financial support from
CPS? - If the answer is no informal MV eligible
- If the answer is yes formal not MV eligible
53 Awaiting Foster Care MV Eligible? The
Jones family is a kinship home for their
grandchildren who were removed from their
mothers care when CPS substantiated allegations
of abuse. CPS has custody of the children, and
provides services and financial support to the
Jones family. Are the children considered
awaiting foster care? NO. Are they MV eligible?
No. How do you know? What questions should you
ask?
54Foster Care Liaison Database
The updated foster care liaison database with
contact information is available
at www.tea.state.tx.us/FosterCareStudentSuccess/
liaisons
55School Selection
- Homeless students may attend one of two schools
- School of Origin School the child/youth attended
when permanently housed or school in which
child/youth last enrolled - Local Attendance Area School Any public school
that nonhomeless students living in the
attendance area in which the child/youth is
actually living are eligible to attend - Best Interest In determining the best interest,
the local educational agency shall to the extent
feasible, keep a homeless child or youth in the
school of origin, except when doing so is
contrary to the wishes of the childs or youths
parent or guardian.
56School Selection
- Students can stay in their school of origin the
entire time they are homeless, or until the end
of any academic year in which they move into
permanent housing - If a student becomes homeless between academic
years, he or she may continue in the school of
origin for the following academic year - School of Origin does NOT apply to feeder
patterns only to a specific campus once a
student changes campus (i.e., promotion) SoO no
longer applies
57School Selection
- The School of Origin never rolls off as an
option for a student who is homeless to attend if
it is in the best interest of the student and is
feasible for the student to attend that school - If a student is sent to a school other than that
requested by a parent or guardian, the district
must provide a written explanation and the right
to appeal
58School Selection
- Texas law allows homeless students to enroll in
the DISTRICT of their choice if they meet the
definition of homeless - not dependent on
residency of student, guardian(s), or
parent(s)- districts are not obligated to
transportation to a school selected under
this provision of State law
59Feasibility
- Feasibility criteria in the U.S. Department of
Educations July 2004 Policy Guidance - age of the child or youth
- distance of a commute and the impact it mayhave
on the students education - personal safety issues
- students need for special instruction (e.g.,
special education and related services) - length of anticipated stay in the temporary
location - time remaining in the school year
- Student-centered, individualized determination
60School Selection Key Questions
- How permanent does the familys living situation
appear? - How deep are the childs ties to current school?
- How strong is the child academically?
- Does one school have programs and activities that
address the unique needs or interests of the
student that the other school does not have? - Would the timing of the school transfer coincide
with a logical juncture such as after testing,
after an event that is significant to the child,
or at the end of the school year? - How would the length of the commute impact the
child? - Are there any safety issues to consider?
- Guiding the Discussion on School Selection
School Selection Checklist
61School Enrollment
- Homeless children have the right to enroll
immediately, even if they do not have required
documents - If a student does not have immunizationsor
immunization or medical records, the liaison must
assist with obtaining them and the student must
be enrolled in the interim - Enrolling schools obtain school records from the
previous school
62School Enrollment
- Children and youth who are homeless must be
enrolled immediately in any school open to other
children living in the same attendance zone - Immediate enrollment includes attending classes
and participating fully in all school activities. - Texas law agrees that enrollment of homeless
students is not dependent on the residency of the
parent or guardian. TX Ed Code 25.001(b)(5)
63School Enrollment
- Immediate enrollment in school applies even if
the student is lacking school records,
immunizations, or other documents. - Immediate enrollment in school applieseven if no
parent or guardian is present. - TX law allows youth to enroll in school on their
own, as long as they are not in the district
primarily to participate in extracurricular
activities and not expelled/no current
delinquent/criminal conduct. TX Ed. Code
25.001(b)(4), (d)
64School Enrollment
- The terms enroll and enrollment include
attending classes and participating fully in
school activities. - Schools must provide students with a free,
appropriate public education therefore, schools
must make an appropriate placement decision for
McKinney-Vento eligible students upon their
enrollment
65School Enrollment
- Students attending their school of origin are not
to be considered transfer students - Students in homeless situations should not be
required to fill out dual residency forms, have
any type of residency documents notarized (i.e.,
letters from the host family they are staying
with), or provide any proof of residency - Adults enrolling homeless students do not need to
change the address on their drivers license
66Transportation
- LEAs must provide homeless students
transportation to their school of origin, ata
parents or guardians request (or at the
liaisons request for an unaccompanied youth) - Districts may choose the manner used to transport
the student - Students must not be penalized for district
delays in arranging transportation - Use transportation compacts or contracts
67Transportation to School of Origin
- If the students temporary residence and the
school of origin are in the same LEA, that LEA
must provide or arrange transportation - If the student is living outside of the school of
origins LEA, then the LEA where the student is
living and the SoOs LEA must determine how to
divide the responsibility and cost, or they must
share them equally
68Transportation
- If the distance of students place of residence
to the school of origin is within the districts
normal cut-off distance (e.g., 2 miles) for
providing student transportation, the district
must verify if the student has a means to get to
school. If not, transportation must be provided,
even though other students attending the same
school and living the same distance from the
campus do not receive transportation services.
69Transportation
- In addition to providing transportation to the
SoO, LEAs must provide homeless students with
transportation services comparable to those
provided to other students - School districts must eliminate barriers to
school enrollment and retention of students
experiencing homelessness (including
transportation barriers)
70Transportation
- Foster care children are entitled to remain in
the current school they were attending at the
time of placement -- when possible -- but
there is not a funding mechanism in place for
this in Texas outside of the payments received by
foster parents. - School districts are not obligated to provide or
pay for this transportation for foster students,
and this transportation cannot be paid with M-V
funds.
71Transportation Strategies
- Develop collaborative relationships
- Use specialty school buses, including special
education and magnet school buses - Develop formal or informal agreements with LEAs
where children cross district lines - Reimburse parents (or youth) for gas
- Link homeless students with carpools
- Explore community resources, public transportation
72Child Nutrition Programs
- US Department of Agriculture policy allows
homeless students immediate access to freemeals
upon identification by liaisonsor shelter
providers (categorical eligibility) - In doubled-up situations, host families may count
guest family on their application - Foster care children are eligible for free school
meals
73Immunizations
- All homeless students have 30 days provisional
enrollment to supply immunization records or
begin the required course of immunizations - Liaison must be notified when immunizations are
lacking and must help student obtain them - Provisional enrollment applies regardless if the
student is enrolling in school for the first time
or is entering the district from out-of-state
74Immunizations
- Provisional enrollment applies regardless of any
immunization delinquencies that might exist, or
that would keep nonhomeless students from
enrolling and attending school - 30-day provisional enrollment is counted from the
time of enrollment in the current district
75Resolution of Enrollment Disputes
- Admit child or youth immediately pending
resolution of dispute - School must provide parent/guardian or youth with
written explanation of the decision, including
statement of rights - Referral to liaison for dispute resolution
- Liaison ensures unaccompanied youth is
immediately enrolled
76Access to Services Title I
- Any student who is homeless and attending any
school in the district is eligible for Title I
services - LEAs must set aside funds as are necessary to
provide services comparable to those provided to
children in Title I schools to serve homeless
children who do not attend participating schools - LEAs can choose to provide services not
ordinarily provided to other Title I students
that are not available from other sources
77Access to Services Title I
- Title I funds can be used for transportation to
the school of origin, as well as for other
transportation needs of homeless students (for
example routes home after tutoring or
extra-curricular activities)
78Title IA Set-Aside Funds
- Additional instructional services in Title I
schools or non-Title I schools - Partial support for the liaison position if Title
I duties are performed - Tutoring programs in shelters
- Eyeglasses
- Educational trips
- Uniforms
- Transportation to the school of origin
- X No prom dresses
- X No housing costs (rent/utilities, motel stays)
79Preschool
- Liaisons must ensure that families and children
have access to Head Start, Even Start, and other
public preschool programs administered by the LEA - Homeless 3- and 4-year-olds are automatically
eligible for Pre-K. (Tex. Ed. Code 29.153) - Head Start was reauthorized in December 2007
many provisions address serving homeless
preschool aged children
80Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
- MV defines UY as a youth not in the physical
custody of a parent or guardian - Living arrangement must meet the Acts definition
of homeless to qualify for McKinney-Vento
services - No lower age limit upper age limit (as with all
McKinney-Vento eligible students) is the states
upper age limit for public education (Texas age
limit 26) - Can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was
asked to leave the home or chose to leave
sometimes there is more than meets the eye in a
youths home-life situation.
81Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
- Train all district and school staff who work with
youth (enrollment staff, secretaries, guidance
counselors, principals, teachers, etc.) on the
definition, rights, and needs of unaccompanied
youth - Develop caregiver forms, self-enrollment forms
for unaccompanied youth, and other forms to
replace typical proof-of-guardianship such forms
should be crafted carefully so they do not create
further barriers or delay enrollment for sample
forms visit www.serve.org/nche/downloads/toolkit/a
ppd.pdf
82Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
- Schools are mandated to report suspected abuse
schools are NOT required to report runaways - Medical consent
- Emergency care can be given to a minor of any age
without parental consent if this is deemed
medically necessary by a physician - Students 18 and older can consent to their own
medical care - Married minors are emancipated and can grant
consent for their own healthcare - 16-year-olds may consent to some medical care
83Support for Success
- Liaisons must assist unaccompanied youth
- Mentorship is critical
- Work to identify the students experiencing
homelessness in your school - Avoid using the word "homeless" in initial
contacts with school personnel and youth. - Share information about the McKinney-Vento Act
and homelessness with colleagues.
84Support for Success
- Put up a MV rights poster in your office.
- Enlist youth to help spread the word among their
peers. - Make it part of your routine to talk to youth
about the McKinney-Vento Act and services for
youth who have left home. You may be surprised by
the students who meet the Acts definition!
85 Strategies
- Get in touch with local agencies that may serve
homeless youth - Shelters, drop-in centers, street outreach
- Soup kitchens, food banks
- Boys Girls Clubs
- Child welfare, law enforcement
- Teen-parent programs
- GLBTQ youth organizations
86 Strategies
- Help youth make the most of high school
- Position higher education as a realistic goal and
start planning early - Encourage and support participation in college
access programs (Upward Bound, Talent Search,
Gear-Up, Early/Middle College High School, etc.) - Encourage and support participation in
extra-curricular activities - Assist with credit accrual and recovery
87 Strategies
- Help youth prepare for college admissions.
- Help youth search for scholarships.
- http//www.naehcy.org/letendre_ab.html
- Help youth with the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) and financial planning for
college. - SAT/ACT fee waivers
- Consider community college as a cost-effective
step toward a 4-year degree - Help youth advocate with Financial Aid
Administrators, if necessary.
88Financial Aid and FAFSA Basics
- Families are expected to contribute to higher
education costs - For dependent students filling out the FAFSA
requires income and asset information for both
the student and the parent, and a parent
signature - For independent students, no parental signature
or income and asset information is needed
89Independent Status forUnaccompanied Youth
- College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2008
(CCRAA) - Grants independent student status to
unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting
youth at risk of homelessness. - These youth can apply for aid without parental
signature or consideration of parental income. - Status must be verified by Local liaison,
RHYA-funded shelter director or designee,
HUD-funded shelter director or designee, OR
College Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)
90Independent Status forUnaccompanied Youth
- College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA)
uses the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless
also includes a student living in the dorms if
he/she otherwise would be homeless - At risk of homelessness when a students
housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and
adequate - Includes a homeless student fleeing an abusive
parent, even if the parent would provide housing
and support.
91 Strategies
- Do a MV-FAFSA Round-Up Week at your school!
- Assist with the identification of students in
homeless situations - Ensure that homelessness will not keep youth out
of college - Ensure that ALL eligible students complete the
FAFSA as unaccompanied homeless youth
92MV-FAFSA Round Up Week
- Ready-made packets are available onTHEOs
website - Sample script, sample letters for seniors
- FAFSA Tips for School Counselors tip sheet
- McKinney-Vento ID Checklist for counselors
- Links to sample FAFSA verification letters and
in-depth information about independent students,
homelessness, and the FAFSA - Implementation support you need from THEO
93Contact Us
Thank you for viewing this detailed introduction
to the McKinney-Vento Act. For more
information, please visit the THEO website at
www.utdanacenter.org/THEO or call
1-800-446-3142