2016 McKinney-Vento Bidder’s Conference K-20 Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction April 15, 2016 Melinda Dyer, Program Supervisor Education for Homeless Children and Youth

 When should a district consider applying for a McKinney-Vento grant? ◦ Increasing numbers of homeless students. ◦ The district sees a need for additional funding/services for homeless students. ◦ A district needs supplemental funding beyond the required Title I set-aside. (All homeless students are categorically eligible for all Title I services.) ◦ A consortia (group of districts) sees a need for improved coordination of services for homeless students across district boundaries.

 Every district in the state is eligible to apply for McKinney-Vento grant funding.  Individual districts may apply for a maximum of $40,000. (Tiered eligibility.)  Consortia/ESD proposals may request a maximum of $45,000.  Grants are competitive and funding will be based on need, quality of proposal, the extent to which the district uses the subgrant to leverage resources, and how the district uses Title I set- aside funds to serve homeless students (per USDE rules.)

 Districts cannot be named in more than one proposal.  Example: A district cannot apply for individual grant funding, and also be listed as a district to be supported through a consortia grant.

 Five Funding Tiers for Individual Districts (iGrants Form Package 234) ◦ TIER 1: Districts with up to 100 homeless: $15,000 ◦ TIER 2: Districts with homeless: $20,000 ◦ TIER 3: Districts with homeless: $25,000 ◦ TIER 4: Districts with 501-1,000 homeless: $30,000 ◦ TIER 5: Districts with over 1,001 homeless: $40,000 (EXAMPLE: A district with 411 homeless students reported during the homeless data collection would be eligible to apply for “Tier 3” funding of $25,000. If funded, the district could receive up to $25,000 for each of the three years of the grant cycle.)

 Funding for Consortium Proposals (iGrants Form Package 233) ◦ Consortium proposals may apply for funding (multi- district, ESD, etc.) ◦ Lead district will be the fiscal agent for the duration of the three year grant. ◦ Consortium programs consist of multiple districts willing to collaborate/work together (minimum of three districts in a consortium.) ◦ All consortium partners must be able to demonstrate need. ◦ May apply for up to $45,000 (to be shared across the consortium.)

There are 16 “Authorized Activities” listed in the McKinney-Vento Act. See full text of the Act for details. (Items listed below are paraphrased.) 1. Tutoring, supplemental instruction, and enriched educational services. 2. Expedited evaluations for homeless students. 3. Professional development.

4. Provision of referral services for medical, dental mental and other health services. 5. Assistance to defray the excess cost of transportation. (Please note: McKinney-Vento grant funding is not intended for use solely as a transportation grant. If a district receives McKinney-Vento funding, they may use no more than 60% of the grant award to defray the excess cost of transportation of homeless students.)

6. Appropriate early childhood education programs for school-aged homeless children. 7. Services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youths in public school programs. 8. Before- and after-school, mentoring, and summer programs. 9. Payment of fees and other costs associated with tracking, obtaining and transferring records.

10. Education and training to the parents of homeless children and youths. 11. Coordination between schools and agencies providing services to homeless children and youths. 12. Provision of pupil services (including violence prevention counseling) and referrals for such services.

13. Activities to address the particular needs of homeless children and youths that may arise from domestic violence. 14. The adaptation of space and purchase of supplies for any nonschool facilities made available to provide services. 15. The provision of school supplies. 16. The provision of other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless children and youths to attend school.

 You will be asked in the application to “check off” the authorized activities in which your district will focus their energy.  You are strongly encouraged to focus on a few key activities.  Be prepared to explain your focus, and how you arrived at the priority areas. (District needs assessment, past performance, etc.)  Strongly recommend reviewing the liaison duties found in the McKinney-Vento Act when considering priority areas for your program.

 A district “Needs Assessment” is a required component of the application for funding. This will be completed at the district level and must be embedded in the form package when submitted for consideration.

 Individual Districts: Complete the “Needs Assessment” based on an overall district assessment of student needs as well as school district assets and deficits regarding homeless students.

 Consortia applicants: Complete the “Needs Assessment” based on the common themes found in all consortia partners, and be ready to provide narrative when necessary. (i.e. “The most significant need identified in our consortia was supplemental tutoring for elementary homeless students, with the exception of ABCD School District, which already has a successful tutoring program.”

 All consortia partners should actively participate in the completion of the needs assessment as well as the grant-writing process. (Districts listed as consortia partners, are not “silent” partners!)

 I have a small district. Will my proposal still be considered for funding? ◦ Yes. Past experience has shown us that districts of all sizes can submit competitive/fundable proposals.

 My district does not have a high number of homeless students, however, homeless students represent a large percentage of the total student enrollment. Will this be considered when reviewing need? ◦ Yes. You will be asked to report the percentage of homeless students in your district. This will be one element of establishing overall need in your district/consortia.

 Proposal will be written for a three year grant period. Plan accordingly ( )  Goals and objectives must be clear and outcome- based. (i.e. “By 2017, at least 75% of homeless 3 rd grade students in our district will be at or above grade level in reading, as demonstrated on statewide assessments.”)  Writing should be clear and concise. Space is limited. Skip the “fluff.” Go for substance.  Don’t overlook special populations of kids, such as those receiving Special Education services, migrant, ELL, etc.

 Be thoughtful about how the grant will directly benefit the homeless students in your district. Write your proposal with this in mind.

 McKinney-Vento funding is limited. You must coordinate/collaborate/partner with others, both inside and outside of the district, to develop a functional/sustainable program.  Be ready to describe connections with other programs and funding streams.

 Coordination with preschool/early childhood programs/HeadStart/ECEAP, etc. is required. If your district has none of these programs, be prepared to describe what is available and how young children will be served.

 According to the federal McKinney-Vento Act, districts are required to set aside Title I funds in the amount needed to serve homeless students.  Be ready to explain how the district arrived at the amount of the Title I set aside (through a needs assessment, etc.) to ensure the amount is appropriate to meet the needs of homeless students.

 Title I set-aside funds may be used for a variety of academic and non-academic supports for students. You will be asked to explain how the Title I set- aside funds will support the needs of the homeless students in your district.  For additional information, see NCHE Issue Brief: “Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness under Title I, Part A”

 Inclusion of professional development in your grant proposal/budget is strongly encouraged.  If your proposal is funded, staff members from your district/program will be required to attend OSPI McKinney-Vento training.

 OSPI Annual Liaison Training (SeaTac and Spokane, September.) One day session. (No registration fee, free clock hours, lunch provided.)  OSPI Grant Recipient Workshop, Vancouver. Two day session for funded districts. (No registration fee, free clock hours, some meals provided.)  Monthly NCHE webinars and online training.  Annual NAEHCY Conference (strongly encouraged.)

 Funds to help “defray the EXCESSS costs” of homeless transportation is one of the16 “authorized activities.”  Not to exceed 60% of grant total.  Be ready to address questions about the coordination of homeless transportation services.

 Avoid vague evaluation plans   Be ready to describe how you will measure the success of your program. (Keep student outcomes in mind…)  May wish to look at existing data, trends over time, individual student outcomes, homeless student assessment data, dropout rates, district and community trends, program development, etc.

 You will be asked to provide a detailed budget narrative.  Be reasonable in your request for funding.  Do not request funding above your district’s defined funding eligibility Tier.  Budgets will be negotiated after-the-fact, contingent upon the availability of McKinney- Vento funding from USDE.

Provide the object and the associated cost. Narrative text must be included to provide appropriate detail to show how the McKinney-Vento grant funds will be used. Example: Object 2 (Salaries Certificated.)  50% salary/benefits for (1FTE) homeless liaison : 50% x$48,000 =$24,000 Object 5 (Supplies/Instr. Resources)  Backpacks, notebooks, graphing calculators, art supplies = $3,400 Additional detail will be required when the budget matrix is created.

 McKinney-Vento is subject to all state and federal assurances (as per assurance page in iGrant)  Additional Assurance: In short… The program needs to be implemented according to the proposal as written. (Competitive grants are reviewed and approved based on the content of the proposal. If your district makes significant changes that substantially alter the program, the funding could be withdrawn.)

 McKinney-Vento is included in CPR review.  On-site visits and program monitoring (typically on a rotating schedule.)  Annual “End-of-Year” reporting.  Annual homeless student data collection for USDE (Funded districts must answer additional data questions.)  Programs will be monitored and reviewed regularly during the three-year grant cycle.

 McKinney-Vento iGrants form packages to be launched mid-April 2016  Deadline for submission: May 26, 2016  Threshold review: June 6,  Grant review finalized by June17, ◦ Independent review team. ◦ Proposals are read, scored and provided w/comments. ◦ Recommendations made for approval/funding.  Districts contacted by June 30, 2016.

 Melinda Dyer, Program Supervisor,  National Center for Homeless Education  National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth  Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction