Pam Kies-Lowe State Coordinator for Homeless Education Michigan Department of Education Lansing, MI Julie Davis McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant Coordinator & Case Manager Wayne Metro Community Action Agency/Wayne RESA Wayne County, MI Xavier “X” Gaudard McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant Coordinator Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle (COP) Educational Services District Indian River, MI

 Background on the Homeless Education Law  Data on Homeless Students  Impact of the Law on Pupil Transportation  Homeless Transportation Strategies  Urban vs Rural Scenarios  Q & A T ODAY ’ S A GENDA June 26,

4 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act  Reauthorized in 2002 as Title X of NCLB/ESEA  Main themes:  School stability  School access  Support for academic success  Child-centered focus  Decision making in the best interest of child 4 June 26, 2012

5 Who is Homeless? Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence:  Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason  Living in motels, hotels, RV/trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations  Living in emergency, domestic violence, or transitional shelters  Temporary foster care placement or awaiting placement  Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live or sleep  Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, under bridges, etc.  Migratory children living in above circumstances 5 June 26, 2012

 Right to immediate enrollment even when records not present  Right to remain in the school of origin, if in the student’s best interest  Right to receive transportation to the school of origin (last attended or attended when last permanently housed)  Support for academic success R IGHTS OF E LIGIBLE C HILDREN AND Y OUTH June 26,

7 Barriers to Education for Homeless Children and Youth  Enrollment requirements (lack of school records, immunizations, proof of residence and guardianship)  High mobility resulting in lack of school stability and educational continuity  Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc.  Lack of access to programs  Lack of transportation  Poor health, fatigue, hunger  Prejudice and misunderstanding 7 June 26, 2012

8 The Roles of Local District Liaisons Local liaisons must:  IDENTIFY children and youth in homeless situations  ENROLL IMMEDIATELY and provide opportunity for students to attend, participate and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.  PROVIDE educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even Start, and preschool programs administered by the LEA; and referrals to health, mental health, dental, and other appropriate services.  INFORM parents/guardians of educational and related opportunities available to their children and provide meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.  FULLY INFORM of all transportation services available under the McKinney-Vento Act, including transportation to the school of origin, and are assisted in accessing these services.  POST PUBLIC NOTICE of the educational rights of students in homeless situations where families, children and youth receive services.  MEDIATE DISPUTES in accordance with the Enrollment Disputes section of the McKinney-Vento Act. 8 By linking students and their families to school and community services, local district Homeless Liaisons play a critical role in stabilizing students and promoting academic achievement at the individual, school, and district level. June 26, 2012

Research on School Mobility  It takes children an average of 4-6 months to recover academically after changing schools.  Mobile students score 20 points lower on standardized tests than non-mobile students.  Mobile students are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble.  Average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly lower in high schools with high student mobility rates.  Students who changed high schools even once were less than half as likely as stable students to graduate, even controlling for other factors. Project Forum at NASDSE, March 2007 National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, 2006 June 26,

10 Impact of Homelessness on Children and Youth Research shows that homeless children are more likely to suffer from:  Health problems  Emotional and mental health problems  Developmental problems  4 times more likely to show delayed development.  2 times as likely to have learning disabilities as non-homeless children.  Academic performance problems  2.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in math  1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in reading  1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in spelling 10 June 26, 2012

McKinney-Vento Grant Consortia  ALL MI COUNTIES represented in Homeless Education Grant Consortia  Over 96% of MI LEAs participating in M-V Grant Consortia June 26,

Homeless Student Enrollment Data June 26,

Homeless Enrollment SY by Nighttime Residence June 26,

S TATE H OMELESS S TUDENT A CADEMIC P ERFORMANCE D ATA * Grades 3-8, ProficiencySY0708SY0809SY0910 National % Proficient in Reading 42%54%52% MI % Proficient in Reading 53%57%70% National % Proficient in Math 41%53%50% MI % Proficient in Math 47%61%66% ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF MICHIGAN HOMELESS STUDENTS IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE! *As measured by student performance on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) June 26,

Impact on District Pupil Transportation “If the homeless child or youth continues to live in the area served by the LEA in which the school of origin is located, the child’s or youth’s transportation to and from the school of origin shall be provided or arranged by the LEA in which the school of origin is located. “If the homeless child’s or youth’s living arrangements in the area served by the LEA of origin terminate and the child or youth, though continuing his or her education in the school of origin, begins living in an area served by another LEA, the LEA of origin and the local educational agency in which the homeless child or youth is living shall agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school of origin. “If the local educational agencies are unable to agree upon such method, the responsibility and costs for transportation shall be shared equally… “Comparable Services — Each homeless child or youth to be assisted under this subtitle shall be provided services comparable to services offered to other students in the school selected under paragraph (3), including the following: (A) Transportation services….” McKinney-Vento Act Sec. 722(g)(1)(J)(iii) and (g)(4)(A); 42 U June 26,

 The law specifically states that COST cannot be used as a reason for declining a school of origin transportation request.  Districts that do not provide transportation to any other students still MUST PROVIDE IT for homeless students.  Districts in which shelters and low income housing are located bear half the cost of transporting homeless students for which they receive no funding.  While districts are being forced to make cuts in other areas of education, homeless transportation must continue to be provided.  The ONLY WAY to continue to provide this is for schools and the community to COLLABORATE & COORDINATE! Impact on Pupil Transportation - 2 June 26,

Strategies for Implementation  Coordinate with local housing authorities and community-based organizations to house students near their schools of origin.  Re-route school buses (including special education, magnet school, and other buses).  Ensure that school buses travel to shelters, transitional living projects, and motels where homeless students reside.  Provide sensitivity training to bus drivers and arrange bus stops to keep students’ living situations confidential. Transportation Brief, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, 2006 June 26,

 Develop close ties among LEA homeless liaisons, school staff, and pupil transportation staff.  Designate a district-level point of contact to arrange and coordinate transportation.  Provide passes for public transportation, including passes for caregivers when necessary.  Collaborate with local public agencies and service providers to develop transportation plans or provide transportation. Transportation Brief, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, 2006 Strategies for Implementation - 2 June 26,

 Take advantage of transportation systems used by public assistance agencies.  Coordinate with public assistance agencies, whose clients cannot work unless their children are in school.  Reimburse parents, guardians, or unaccompanied youth for gas.  Obtain corporate or other sponsorship for transportation costs. Strategies for Implementation - 3 Transportation Brief, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, 2006 June 26,

SUCCESSFUL Urban and Rural Transportation Strategies used in Michigan Districts June 26,

June 26, Questions?

22 Why we do what we do… “…Through it all, school is probably the only thing that has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in those doors, I can stop thinking about my problems for the next six hours and concentrate on what is most important to me. Without the support of my school system, I would not be as well off as I am today. School keeps me motivated to move on, and encourages me to find a better life for myself.” Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, June 26, 2012

23 RESOURCES TO RELY ON 23 MDE Homeless Education Web Page - MDE Homeless Education Web Page The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness HPRP - Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) National Runaway Switchboard June 26, 2012

24 Contact Information Homeless Education Program Office Use our Interactive Map to get contact information for M-V Grant Coordinators for every county in Michigan! State Coordinator for Homeless Education Pam Kies-Lowe 24 June 26, 2012