Educating Unaccompanied and Homeless Youth Webinar February 9, 2015

Today’s Agenda Housekeeping McKinney-Vento Quick Overview Definition of Unaccompanied Youth Data Common Barriers Solutions

Housekeeping Who am I? David Ray Region 10 ESC Homeless and Foster Care Education Consultant

Housekeeping Who am I?

Collaborations Texas Homeless Education Office Homeless Liaison Directory Fact Sheets Poster and Pamphlet Order Form TEA NAEHCY NCHE THN

Housekeeping Asking Questions If your question is not answered during the presentation please me:

Handouts, Forms and Recordings All handouts, forms and recordings are hosted at If more than one person is watching this presentation on a single screen : Please know that credit can only be given if the multiple participants form is submitted back to Region 10 on the day of the training. The multiple participants form is located at

McKinney-Vento Quick Overview Please visit for a recorded webinar titled “Foundations of Homeless Education” McKinney-Vento is a federal Law that was most recently included in NCLB Texas Education Code (TEC) also contains extra provisions for students experiencing homelessness in Texas

McKinney-Vento Quick Overview All Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must have a Homeless Liaison (HoLi) All LEAs must designate an appropriate staff person, who may also be a coordinator for other federal programs, as a LEA liaison for homeless children and youth to perform duties described in paragraph 6(A) [Section722(g)(1)(J)(ii)].

McKinney-Vento Quick Overview Students are homeless if they lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. Includes: Sheltered (1) Doubled-Up (2) Unsheltered (3) Hotel/Motel (4) (Numbers in parentheses represent PEIMS coding. Housing status is coded on the student 100 record, column 79)

McKinney-Vento Quick Overview Immediate Enrollment (even if lacking proper paperwork) Automatic Access to Nutrition Services Transportation to the School of Origin (SoO) In Texas, enrollment in any district, regardless of the residence of the student or guardians (TEC Admissions) Comparable services via Title I funds Other services via Title I funds

McKinney-Vento Quick Overview Successful LEAs use Student Residency Questionnaires (SRQ), annually to evaluate the housing of all students

Definition of Unaccompanied The term “unaccompanied youth” includes youth in homeless situations who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. in homeless situations

Definition of Unaccompanied Homeless Students Not With Guardians

PEIMS PEIMS 100 record column 80 indicates Unaccompanied Status 0= Not Unaccompanied 1= Unaccompanied and receiving services under McKinney-Vento Program 2= Unaccompanied and NOT receiving services under a McKinney-Vento Program

Definition of Unaccompanied In 1938, Huey, Dewey and Louie are sent to live with Uncle Donald because their father was in the hospital and their mother, Della Duck (Donald’s twin sister), could not care for them. Homeless & Unaccompanied

Definition of Unaccompanied By 1941, the boys had permanently moved in with Donald. However, guardianship transfer was never sought. Students not with legal guardians

Definition of Unaccompanied In 1987, Donald joined the navy. He made a plan with his Uncle, Scrooge McDuck, to watch the boys while he was away. Students not with legal guardians

Definition of Unaccompanied Homeless & Unaccompanied

Definition of Unaccompanied, Examples A student leaves home for unspecified reasons. He is currently sleeping at different friends’ houses depending on availability. A student is not allowed to come home because her parents do not agree with her sexual orientation. This student is currently living with a family friend but is planning to move to her Aunt’s house soon. A single-parent family loses their home because of a natural disaster. The family relocates to a shelter. A student is kicked out of the shelter where his parent chooses to stay. The student has been sleeping in his car since.

Data The most common endangerment component of runaway and expelled youth is physical or sexual abuse at home in the year prior to the episode or being afraid of abuse upon return. 50% report that parents told them to leave or knew they were leaving and didn’t care. 47% indicated sexual abuse. (compared to 1-3%) 17% report sexual exploitation. More than 1/3 engage in survival sex.

Data 50%-56% reported mental health problems over their lifetime. 2/3 had diagnosable mental health issues according to the DSM III-R. 50% have had a pregnancy experience. On the street, 66% of males and 33% of females had been assaulted. 12 times more likely to become infected with HIV. 18 times more likely to use crack cocaine. Higher risk for anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, suicide attempts and enhanced exposure to violence.

Other Common Barriers Lack of Knowledge of enrollment staff Lack of Knowledge of students Enrollment (i) The school selected in accordance with this paragraph shall immediately enroll the homeless child or youth, even if the child or youth is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, medical records, proof of residency, or other documentation. (ii) The enrolling school shall immediately contact the school last attended by the child or youth to obtain relevant academic and other records. (iii) If the child or youth needs to obtain immunizations, or immunization or medical records, the enrolling school shall immediately refer the parent or guardian of the child or youth to the local education agency liaison designated under paragraph (1)(J)(ii), who shall assist in obtaining necessary immunizations, or immunization or medical records, in accordance with subpararpah (D).

Other Common Barriers Provide assistance to the parent or guardian of each homeless child or youth (or, in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the youth) to exercise the right to attend the parent’s or guardian’s (or youth’s) choice of schools

Dispute Resolution Parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth should be informed that they can provide written or oral documentation to support their position; Students should be provided with all services for which they are eligible while disputes are resolved; Written notice should be complete, as brief as possible, simply stated, and provided in a language the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth can understand. The notice should include:

Dispute Resolution 1. Contact information for the LEA homeless liaison and State coordinator, with a brief description of their roles; 2. A simple, detachable form that parents, guardians, or unaccompanied youth can complete and turn in to the school to initiate the dispute process. (The school should copy the form and return the copy to the parent, guardian or youth for their records when it is submitted); 3. A step-by-step description of how to dispute the school’s decision; 4. Notice of the right to enroll immediately in the school of choice pending resolution of the dispute; 5. Notice that “immediate enrollment” includes full participation in all school activities; 6. Notice of the right to appeal to the State if the district-level resolution is not satisfactory; and 7. Timelines for resolving district- and State-level appeals.

Other Common Barriers Basic Needs are not Being Met Nutrition Assistance Emotional Stress Relief Housing Clothing Places to do Homework SSI, TANF, Medicaid “The most significant barrier to unaccompanied youth’s educational success is the fact that they must struggle daily to provide for their basic needs, while managing the extreme physical and emotional stress of homelessness.” -- Patricia Julianelle

Other Common Barriers UIL Homeless students need their school administrator to apply to the UIL for a waiver of residence if the student plans to participate in varsity athletics. Residence rules for athletic varsity eligibility are found in Section 440 (b) and 442 of the Constitution and Contest Rules.

Other Common Barriers Grades and Credit Recovery Develop Strategies to continue educating students who have been suspended or expelled from school 90% rule has exceptions Encouraged to get creative TXVSN is an option Flexible Schedules (Mobile, AL and Anchorage, AK) Review transcripts to see if credit can be given Award credit for employment

Other Common Barriers Truancy and Drop Out Method for reviewing absences? Which are related to homelessness and which are not? What are the students’ expectations of themselves?

Other Common Barriers Special Education and ARD meetings Legal framework (ESC 18) assigns a surrogate Also defines “parent” broadly “An individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive parent (including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s welfare”

Other Common Barriers FAFSA and Post-Secondary Education Unaccompanied Homeless students meet the definition of “Independent Student” Verification can be made by the HoLi (Sample Letter)

Other Common Barriers Health and other Guardianship Issues Immunizations Immediate referral to HoLi Age 16 and up can consent to own medical treatment (FC) Revise or develop LEA policies to address issues related to who signs for unaccompanied youth to participate in field trips or extracurricular activities. Work with legal staff to eliminate any fears about potential liability.

Long Term Success Policy/Procedure

Long Term Success Campus Improvement Plans? District Improvement Plans?