McKinney-Vento Act Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program ESEA - Title X 1

Title X Purpose: To ensure homeless students have equal access to the same public education, including preschool, as is provided other children and youth, and opportunities to meet the same challenging academic achievement standards. 2

Basic Homeless Definition Homeless individuals and families lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. 3

Homeless Living Situations In Shelters or Transitional Housing Doubled-Up/Sharing Housing or ”Couch-Surfing” due to: –Loss of Housing, Economic Hardship –Other Similar Reason Hotel or Motel residence due to lack of funds for stable housing 4

“Unsheltered” Living Situations Camping in Cars, Parks, Public Spaces, Abandoned Buildings, Tents, Sheds Substandard or Overcrowded Housing Other sleeping places not designed for long-term human accommodation 5

…and… Students Awaiting Foster Care Placement Migrant Students in homeless living situations Unaccompanied Youths –not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian; –abandoned youths 6

Domestic Violence A family or youth who is fleeing domestic violence and/or abuse may find themselves in a “homeless” living situation. Safety and privacy concerns are important when assisting children, youth and adults in these situations. 7

ORS (7) OREGON SCHOOL LAW A school district shall not exclude from admission a child located in the district: solely because the child does not have a fixed place or residence, or solely because the child is not under the supervision of a parent, guardian or person in a parental relationship. 8

Responsibilities of Districts Designate an ACTIVE District Liaison Publicize Liaison’s contact information Collect and report annual data on homeless students Provide school placement dispute resolution services Enroll and place homeless students per their BEST EDUCATIONAL INTEREST 9

Responsibilities of Districts Immediate enrollment and placement (e.g., within 24 hours, even if on an IEP). Handle enrollment disputes quickly; student remains at school where they seek enrollment until determination is made. Share responsibility & transportation costs with other districts in inter-district cases 10

Responsibilities of Districts Prohibit segregation or separate instruction of homeless students Provide transportation to regular school and extended day programs Remove barriers to full participation in regular public school, including sports, field trips, graduation exercises, college and career preparation. 11

Title IA Services Required Homeless students are automatically Title I-A Title I-A funded districts must reserve a portion to serve homeless students Set-asides are used primarily to provide Title I services to homeless students in non-Title I funded schools Set-asides may also be used to provide educational services to all homeless students, and/or support the FTE of the Liaison. 12

Preschool-Age Children Work with public preschools and Head Start programs to prioritize enrollment of homeless children. Help public preschools and Head Start programs identify and count homeless children, ages 3-5. Refer homeless families with young children ages 0-2 to screening and assessment for Early Intervention/Early Childhood Education. 13

Responsibilities of Liaisons Post notices on rights of homeless students Provide district staff with awareness training Collaborate with local service providers Enroll homeless students at their school-of- origin when desired by parents/student and when in the student’s best educational interest 14

Once identified…. Provide a copy of MV rights to parents and unaccompanied youths; Immediately provide free meals and Title I services to students who need them; Provide full access to Pre-K though Gr 12 opportunities, including early intervention, tutoring, supplemental support, credit recovery, college prep. 15

Once identified… Ensure full educational services Include parents in education of the child & in district Parental Involvement Activities Assist families and youths to obtain needed immunizations and documents such as birth certificates. 16

Liaison Assistance Referrals to other providers for medical, dental, counseling and other services. Enrollment in extended-day, vacation and summer school and meal programs. Family literacy programs, where available. Clothing, shoes, hygiene supplies, showers, laundry services. 17

Best Practices Create an Intake Form for Families that includes all family members, particularly younger siblings who are not yet in school. Use a separate Intake Form for Unaccompanied Youths, including emergency contacts. Create a local resource list for referrals 18

Discussion How long can (or should) a family or youth residing in the same doubled-up housing situation be considered “homeless”? 19

Discussion Should teachers be notified of homeless students in their classrooms? –What are potential advantages? –What are potential disadvantages? 20

Scenario A family in your district loses their housing and moves in with a relative in a nearby district. They would like the children to remain in their schools of origin. You contact the other district about splitting the transportation costs, but they believe this is not a homeless case at all. They say the relative’s house is very nice and the family just doesn’t like their schools. What to do? 21

Scenario An 8 th grade student leaves home to live with a friend’s family in another district. The new district enrolled him, but his mother now says they had no right to do so without her permission. Her son has a home she says, so he’s not homeless. She wants the new district to “un-enroll” him. Is this a Title X case? Why or why not? What should the Liaison do? What should the District do? 22

Scenario Police remove two children from their parental home after a drug arrest and place them in a temporary foster home until Child Welfare can locate relatives to care for them. The district has kept the children at their schools of origin using taxi cabs, but a month has passed and the cost is not sustainable. The caseworker insists the school transportation should continue. What should the Liaison do? 23

Oregon Liaisons MVA Listserv Hosted by Lane ESD Dona Bolt for direct link to subscribe. You must subscribe/unsubscribe yourself. 24

Websites: National Center for Homeless Education- NCHE -- USDE-approved information for Liaisons and District Staff; topic briefs, toolkits, webinars, online trainings. National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth - NAEHCY - Hosts annual conference for Liaisons and State Coordinators. 25

Websites: Oregon Department of Education OR – Go to ODE home page and search for “Homeless Ed” – click on top folder link. 26

For More Information: Dona Bolt, Education Specialist Oregon Title X Coordinator (503)