EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS Aiken County Public Schools Office Of Federal Programs CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS McKinney Vento Homeless Education Program

McKinney Vento: The Law The McKinney Vento Homeless Act was signed into law in 1987 The McKinney Vento Homeless Act was reauthorized in 2001 to ensure educational accessibility and success The McKinney legislation protects the educational rights of homeless children and youth The removal of barriers is mandated by law The right to remain in their school of origin The immediate enrollment of homeless children/youth The right to a free and appropriate education Identified homeless children/youth are protected under the law for an entire school calendar year

IDENTIFICATION OF HOMELESSNESS FEDERAL DEFINITION: Homeless or homeless individual as an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence, i.e. motels, hotels, etc A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporarily living accommodations Children , youth and their families doubled-up due to economic hardship, loss of housing due to house fire, domestic abuse, foreclosure, etc Children, youth and their families living in abandoned buildings, structures, cars, etc Children, youth and their families living in campgrounds, tents, etc. Youth who are considered “throw-away”, abandoned and/or removed by parents, guardians “Awaiting Fostercare”- children and youth who are temporarily residing with family and friends NOT Licensed Fostercare providers/ Not Licensed Fostercare Facility (AFTER DECEMBER 16, 2016 no longer identified as homeless per ESSA 2016-Every Student Succeeds Act, December 2015).

BARRIERS Personal bias/perception about homelessness Records (birth certificate, immunization record, proof of residency, school records, etc.) Transportation to school of origin Unaccompanied Youth Status(not in the physical custody of biological parent/guardian) Tests, Graduation Rate/Drop out rate

HOMELESS STUDENT INFORMATION PRIMARY NIGHT TIME RESIDENCE: S:Shelters, Transitional housing, or awaiting foster care Doubled-up: sharing housing of other persons, relatives, friends) due to economic hardship, loss of housing U:Unsheltered, cars, parks, campgrounds, temporary. trailers, abandoned buildings, etc. H: Hotels, motels UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH: Youth who are homeless and do not reside with a legal parent or guardian POWERSCHOOL: McKINNEY VENTO SCREEN TO CODE FOR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS Primary Night Time Residence (At the time of the initial identification of homelessness) S-Shelters, transitional housing, awaiting foster care Served by McKinney-Vento Y-Yes Unaccompanied youth

Contact Information: Linda Mirabel-Pace, State Homeless Coordinator 803.734.6010 Jeanie Glover , Director of Office of Federal Programs 803.641.2453 jglover@acpsd.net Sherida S. Stroman, District McKinney Vento Liaison 803.335.7052 sstroman@acpsd.net