McKinney-Vento Homeless Education An Orientation to McKinney-Vento Homeless Education

Agenda Introductions & Ground Rules McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance The Law Who’s Homeless Educational Rights of Homeless Children and youth Role of the Homeless Liaison Break Homelessness In Massachusetts Best Practices Hot Topics Questions

Introductions Please include: Your name, District, Your job/position, and Your connection to homeless education

Ground Rules While we will look at some cases, and that can be a good way of learning to work with the law, we must maintain the children and families’ confidentiality. For questions regarding specific cases please withhold identifying information or see us during the break or after this session.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, 2002 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance No Child Left Behind So why do we even have this law? Homelessness is a journey- not an overnight event-that has enormous impact on children

Why McKinney-Vento? Homelessness affects Whole family, Attendance, The ability to focus and learn, Educational gaps due to high mobility and Behavior Homelessness is often accompanied with Food insecurity Lack of medical, dental and mental health services Loss of connection to family, friends, community

The Law Definition, Who is Homeless? Educational Rights of Students who are Homeless School Selection & Enrollment Transportation Nutrition Equal Access & Comparable Services Title I See ESE Homeless Education Advisories on Webpage Role of the Homeless Liaison

Definition: Who is Homeless? Anyone who lacks fixed regular and adequate nighttime residence. This Includes: Shelters and motels On the street: cars, parks,…. Doubling up due to Economic hardship, loss of housing or similar reason Unaccompanied youth Awaiting foster care

Homeless? Case Study A parent arrives at the Parent Information center to enroll her second grader. She explains that she has just arrived in town and does not have way to prove residency and is unwilling to show you a lease. Is she housed? Or homeless?

Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless School Selection & Enrollment School of Origin School/District last attended School attended when student became homeless Immediate Enrollment Locally With or without Documentation Unaccompanied Youth

Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless Students Records Transportation Shared Responsibility Special Education Nutrition Free Lunch and Breakfast Paperwork Food Insecurity

Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless Equal Access & Comparable services School Courses, Events, Activities Student Support Services Preschool Charter Schools, Vocational Schools, School Choice Title I School-wide & Targeted Programs Addressing the unique needs of homeless students

Homeless student interview their liaisons NAEHCY video Homeless student interview their liaisons

Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison Facilitate Enrollment & Dispute Resolution Process Transportation Communicating with your counterparts

Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison Identification Building Awareness is Key Professional Development and Training School committee Ensure Equal Access & Comparable Services Referral to Outside Services

Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison Data Collection Tracking for internal purposes Support Services Transportation reimbursement Annual ESE data collection Students that are enrolled with you Enter-do not delete

Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison ESE contact You are our way and families’ way of reaching the district! Monitoring and Compliance

Break Take a few minutes for you and a few minutes to say hello to a colleague!

Journey Through Homelessness Case Study A first grader has made several trips to the school nurse’s office in the past month with vague complaints of not feeling good. Mom recently mentioned that her work hours were cut and the family is struggling. Today the student falls asleep in the nurse’s office saying they cant sleep at home anymore. What is going on? Could she be homeless? What can the nurse do? What can you do?

Homelessness in Massachusetts 2012/13 School Year by the Numbers Shelters 3,656 Doubled up 6,744 Unaccompanied 935 Unsheltered 109 Motels 2,582 Awaiting Foster Care 1,786 Total 15,812

Homelessness in Massachusetts State Shelter system Family Shelters Motels Unaccompanied Youth & Adult Shelters Moving out of Shelter & Signing a Lease Enrollment Verification Letter Doubling up Living with friends or relatives due to economic hardship, loss of housing and similar reason

Homelessness in Massachusetts Summer Campgrounds & Winter Rentals Couch surfing & unaccompanied youth Department of Children and Families STARR TCU Temporary foster care and foster care

Best Practices Policy Enrollment Identification, the key is training Template at MASC.org ESE summary page Sample District Policies Enrollment Do your enrollment forms cite McKinney-Vento or families in transition Identification, the key is training Who: enrollment staff, guidance, principals, nurses DVDs Awareness building: school committee, community

Best Practices Student Support Services Community Based Services and Outreach Medical, Mental and Dental Health Food Pantries & Clothing Banks Local Transportation Local Housing Advocates Local Enrichment opportunities Public Libraries Municipal Parks and Recreation YM/WCAs, Boys and Girls, Out of School Time Providers

Is your contact information up to date? Your District’s Contact Verify your contact information on the ESE website Update is done by the District’s Directory Administrator- not by ESE; Parents, providers and other state agencies reference this list

Hot Topics Commission on Youth Homelessness Passed by the state legislature ESE is a participating member First report issued in May 2013 US ICH Open Doors focus on unaccompanied youth MHSA Young Adult Resource Guide Statewide Resource Online at MHSA.net, click on Resources

Your Hot Topics? What are you seeing? What are you concerned about? What’s working for you?

Questions? Did we miss anything Looking for more information NAEHCY NCHE National Runaway Switchboard Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless

ESE Office for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth We are Glad to Help… ESE Office for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Sarah Slautterback, State Coordinator 781-338-6330 Sslautterback@doe.mass.edu Elizabeth Harris, Program Coordinator 781-338-6310 eharris@doe.mass.edu Website http://www.doe.mass.edu/mv/