Student Success! Attendance Family Engagement Community Services Academics CMS--Connecting the Dots!! Targeted Supports for MCV Students Presentation Developed by: Marina Leonidas, MSW NAEHCY Conference Atlanta, GA November 2013

Objectives Explain MCV History and Role in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Share Aggregate MCV data Showcase strategies that have successfully supported CMS MCV students

Where we have been…how did we get here? CMS graduation rate rises to 81% ! CMS MCV Graduation rate 88% !!!

Background Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools – 144,000 students in 160 schools – 53% of students are Economically Disadvantaged – 73 Title I Schools McKinney-Vento Students – : 4,770 MCV students – : 4,922 MCV students – : 4,711 MCV students – : 4,453 MCV students

MCV in Charlotte-Mecklenburg District Liaison School Liaisons Coordination with Transportation, Child Nutrition, Student Placement, Family/Community Services, International Center, Title I, School Health Coordination with Community Resources/Agencies MCV students identified in 98% of our schools

What We Know… Homeless students are more likely to have physical, emotional, behavioral, and academic concerns. What We’ve Done… Focus on the basic needs- physical, emotional, behavioral. What We’re Doing… Continuing the above, with an increased focus on academic needs.

Many Titles: One Framework National Model: Response to Intervention North Carolina Model: Responsiveness to Instruction CMS Model: Response to Instruction Why the difference? Intervention can be perceived as something only for exceptional children Instruction ties the initiative to the academic and behavioral achievement of all students.

Primary Instruction: Universal Grade Level Instruction for All Students Secondary Instruction: Specialized Groups for Academic At-Risk Tertiary Instruction: Specialized Individual Supports for Students with High-Risk of Academic Failure 80% of Students Targeted Assessments & Support 15% of Students 5% of Students MCV SUPPORTS

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Why MCV Social Workers? Schools with large MCV populations Unique needs of MCV students National data paints a sad picture Targeted support to this group of students betters the overall school Incorporate the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs 9 MCV social workers serving 9 schools

Role of MCV Social Worker General School Social Worker – Responsible for ENTIRE school – Focus on attendance, crisis and other critical issues McKinney-Vento School Social Worker – Spotlight on MCV students and families (Targeted Supports-Tier 2) – Attendance and Transportation – Academic Challenges – Social/Emotional Needs – Family Needs Assessment – General School Support

MCV School Stability for Entire Year Billingsville85.40%92.40% Bruns Avenue73.20%89.40% Druid Hills69.90%85.30% Thomasboro67.20%86.00% Walter G. Byers72.40%89.50% East Mecklenburg89.50%84.70% Garinger89.70%85.60% Harding81.80%82.80% Myers Park67.20%82.10% Vance82.20%84.40% West Charlotte79.20%86.60% West Mecklenburg89.70%91.90%

Average MCV Daily Attendance SchoolMCVNon-MCV Billingsville93.60%94.90% Bruns Avenue91.70%93.80% Druid Hills91.50%93.70% Thomasboro90.40%94.90% Walter G. Byers91.20%94.70% East Mecklenburg88.30%93.20% Garinger84.00%88.90% Harding82.30%90.50% Myers Park81.40%91.70% Vance83.40%89.80% West Charlotte88.30%87.80% West Mecklenburg84.10%91.00%

MCV Graduation Rate !! School East Mecklenburg88.90%88.20% Garinger88.30%92.00% Harding50.00%87.50% Myers Park83.30%76.90% Vance89.70%96.20% West Charlotte68.80%90.90% West Mecklenburg82.60%88.00%

CMS graduation rate 81% ! CMS MCV Graduation rate 88% !!!

District Connections 9 MCV Social Workers-6 High schools, 2 K-8 schools (year round), 1 Elementary school Trainings for all MCV Liaisons at every school Intake Affidavit connects siblings at other schools (A Child’s Place assists with that also) Services Fair-connects schools with community resources

SMART ECONOMY ACTIVITY!!

Student Success! Attendance Family Engagement Community Services Academics Connecting the Dots!!

Academic Supports/Attendance I.Meet with the student’s counselor A. Credit Check Review B. On or Off Track for Cohort 1. Credit Recovery 2. Remedial Supports 3. Twilight School 4. N.C. Virtual Public School

Academic Supports/Attendance II.Student/ Parent Conference A. GPA B. Credit Check Review/On or off-track for cohort C. Post High School Plans 1. College/Community College a. SAT or ACT b. State or Private Institution c. FAFSA (Question #55) d. College Tours and College Supplies 1. College/

Academic Supports/Attendance 2. World of Work a. Resume workshops b. Internships c. Summer work programs d. NC Vocational Rehab Program 3. Military a. ASVAB exam b. Recruiters

Family Engagement PTSA (provide FOOD for meetings!) Different types of fund raising to get more people involved. Websites, Social media, Connect Ed-radio announcer assisting for one group parent-engagement.html parent-engagement.html Transportation and Bus passes

Trainings and Family Fun Nights

Parent University is a community collaborative led by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to help parents become full partners in their children’s education. CMS partners with community agencies and organizations to offer free courses, family events and activities that will equip families with new or additional skills, knowledge, resources and confidence.

TO WHOM DO YOU TURN? Community Resources & Referrals      National Organizations Federal & Stage Agencies Local Agencies & Special Interest Groups Guardian Angels …any others?

Resource Management Restrictions and requirements to participate in programs Eligibility vs. Ineligibility Which referral at which time… And…who is in control? “Once a person is determined to help themselves, there is nothing that can stop them.” - Nelson Mandela

The MCV Social Worker Difference Increased need of resource allocation Need is often beyond Food, Clothing & Basic Shelter Increased contact with families Mental health support & referrals – sometimes modeling Overall planning and assisting parents/teachers & staff/communities Monitoring: follow-up, level of use

CHALLENGES &TRIUMPHS One of the greatest challenges is assisting families to regain or, for some, gain stability What are the family’s goals? Based on statement and actions – sometimes they do not match Some things are beyond their circumstances/abilities… or for the best We can be those eyes of healing AND recognizing movement and change – even when families find themselves “back where they started”

Wrap-up! Explored a large Urban school district’s program Alignment with RtI framework Successful strategies that have supported MCV students in various school settings. (K-12)

Presenter Information Dearsley Vernon, Title I Specialist Patrice Webb-Bush, MCV Social Worker Vanessa Eichman, MCV Social Worker Juanita Gatewood, MCV Social Worker Marina Leonidas, MCV Social Worker Audrey Robinson, MCV Social Worker Karen Worrell, MCV Social Worker