1. McKinney Vento Education Training
September 10, 2018
Eileen Shoup – ROE 26 and Area 3 MKV Liaison

2. Timeline of homeless law
1987- McKinney Homeless Assistance Act Created
Becomes the McKinney – Vento Law under NCLB
2015 Continues to remove barriers under ESSA

3. McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless
Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:
Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
Living in emergency or transitional shelters, or are abandoned in hospitals

4. McKinney-Vento Definition (cont.)
Living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
Migratory children living in the above circumstances
Pub. L. No , § 9105(a)(1)(B), 129 Stat. 2137
The term unaccompanied youth includes a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian
Pub. L. No , § 9105(a)(3), 129 Stat. 2137

5. National School Data,
Source:

6. Illinois PK-12 MKV Counts

7. End of Year MKV Counts by County

8. Current Pre-K numbers by county

9. Understanding WHY FAMILIES LOSE HOUSING
Common causes of why families lose housing
Economic challenges (lack of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment/underemployment, single parenting/single income)
Health challenges (disabilities, mental health issues, substance abuse)
Domestic violence

10. Understanding the MKV Youth
Common causes of youth homelessness
Abuse or neglect
Acute conflict (pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, blended family issues, substance abuse)
Economic challenges (pressure for older children to be financially independent)
Shelter policies (lack of space for whole family, adolescent boys sent to adult shelters)

11. Understanding Substandard Housing
Considerations:
Does the housing lack one of the fundamental utilities such as water, electricity, or heat?
Is the housing infested with vermin or mold?
Does the housing lack a basic functional part such as a working kitchen or a working toilet?

12. The Removal of AFCP
ESSA removes “awaiting foster care placement” from the definition of MKV

13. Main themes of McKinney-Vento
Identification.
School stability.
School enrollment
Support for academic success.
Child-centered, best interest decision making.

14. Obstacles to identification
Embarrassment or fear of being judged.
Fear of losing custody (NOT a reason for having children removed)
Unaccompanied youth may fear being returned to an unsafe family environment or taken into the child welfare system

15. Obstacles to identification (cont.)
Schools and service providers may be unaware of students who are not enrolled in school but are in shelters or are doubled up.
Do not realize that they are considered MKV-eligible since MKV and HUD definitions are different.

16. Strategies to help identify
Create community awareness.
Develop Interagency Partnerships.
Train school staff.
Provide information to parents.
Reach out to youth.

20. The Student has been identified as MKV-eligible Now What??

21. School Stability
Each LEA shall, according to each child’s or youth’s best interest:
Continue the student’s education in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness, and until the end of the academic year in which the student becomes permanently housed; OR
Enroll in any public school that housed students living where the student is living are eligible to attend.
In Illinois, the parent/guardian makes the best interest determination.

22. School of Origin
School of origin is the school attended when permanently housed or school in which last enrolled, including a preschool and including the designated receiving school at the next grade level for feeder schools.

23. Enrollment
When remaining in the school of origin is not in the student’s best interest or what the parent, guardian or youth requests:
McKinney-Vento students are entitled to immediate enrollment in any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend; even if:
Students do not have required documents, such as school records, records of immunization and other required health records, proof of residency, guardianship, or other documents; or
Students have missed application or enrollment deadlines during any period of homelessness.

24. Free Birth Certificates for MKV
As of January 1, 2018 MKV-eligible students can get a free birth certificate for Illinois courthouses.
The form can be found at the following address:

25. Enrollment
“Enrollment” includes attending classes and participating fully in school activities.
SEAs and LEAs must develop, review, and revise policies to remove barriers to the identification, enrollment and retention of children and youth in homeless situations, including barriers due to outstanding fees or fines, or absences.

26. Enrollment of unaccompanied youth
“Unaccompanied Youth: A youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian (g)(1)(H)(iv)
Immediate enrollment applies, even without parent or guardian.
Youth self-enrollment; Caregiver authorization form
04J_caregivers.pdf
Liaisons must help unaccompanied youth choose and enroll in a school, give priority to the youth’s wishes, and inform the youth of his/her appeal rights.

27. Support for success – You don’t have to do it alone!
Collaborate with area community agencies – help with food, services, transportation, etc.
Share the information with other teachers and staff as needed.
Create networks.

28. Helping hands
During registration gather a list of parents and as many other interested people (and contact information) as you can who are willing to offer assistance on an as needed basis.
Extend that list to area agencies, churches, businesses and others in the community
Create a listserv ( group)
Have forms for teachers and staff to fill out when they see a specific student need.
The lead contact then sends out an to the listserv asking for help to fulfil the need.
OFTEN PEOPLE JUST NEED TO
KNOW HOW TO HELP

29. Support for success – title iA
McKinney-Vento students attending any school in the LEA are automatically eligible for Title IA services USC 6315(c)(2)(E); Guidance M1
State report cards must disaggregate achievement and high school graduation data for McKinney-Vento students. 20 USC 6311(h)(1)(c)

30. Support for success – title iA
Funds may be used:
For homeless children and youth attending any school in the LEA.
For services not ordinarily provided to other students.
To fund the McKinney-Vento liaison.
To provide transportation to the school of origin.
For educationally related support services, including preschool.

31. title iA Funds – can be used for…
Clothing, particularly if necessary for dress code or physical education classes.
Fees to participate in the general education program.
School supplies
Birth certificates necessary to enroll in school
Food (in connection with educational programming)
Medical and dental services, immunizations, glasses, hearing aids
Counseling services
Outreach services
Extended learning time; Tutoring services
Fees for AP, IB, GED testing

32. National school lunch act
McKinney-Vento students are automatically eligible for free school meals.
USDA policy permits liaisons and shelter directors to obtain free school meals for students immediately by providing a list of names of students experiencing homelessness with effective dates.

33. Transportation
LEAs must provide transportation to and from the school/preschool of origin, including until the end of the year when the student obtains permanent housing, at a parent or guardian’s request (or at the liaison’s request for unaccompanied youth).
If staying in the same LEA, that LEA must provide or arrange transportation to the school of origin.
If crossing LEA lines, both LEAs must determine how to divide the responsibility and share the cost, or they must share the cost equally. transportation

34. Transportation
LEAs also must provide students in homeless situations with transportation services comparable to those provided to other students.
SEAs and LEAs must review and revise transportation policies that may act as barriers to identification, enrollment, attendance or success.
Transportation must be arranged promptly to ensure immediate enrollment and not create barriers to attendance, retention or success.

35. Dispute resolution
“If a dispute arises over eligibility, school selection, transportation or enrollment in a school (including full participation):
The student shall be immediately enrolled and/or provided transportation;
Illinois:
The Regional Superintendent shall appoint a fair and impartial Ombudsperson to convene a meeting of the parties.
The Ombudsperson’s decision may be appealed to the State Coordinator for review. The State Superintendent shall make the final determination.

36. Role of the School District
Dispute resolution
Role of the School District
Immediate Enrollment
Fee waivers, including graduation, extra-curricular & tech fees
Transportation (if needed)
Provide a stable environment
Connection to social agencies
Provide a liaison
Use Title I set-side
Priority to Head Start & Pre-K Programs
Provide educational rights for homeless youth.

37. Resources Go to isbe.net and in the search box type in “homeless”.
Includes Caregiver Form
Homeless Dispute Resolution Procedures
Registration Guidance
And many other resources, forms, and presentations
Transportation plan
Presentation
Common Form
National Center for Homeless Education
Includes webinars and self-paced training
Other resources regarding homelessness

38. SCENARIOS

39. Scenario 1
Kaitlyn is going to Illini West High School. She and her mom can’t get along so she moved in with her cousin in the West Prairie school district. Kaitlyn would like to continue going to IW.
Is this a MKV situation? Why or why not? What would you do?

40. Scenario 2
John and his mom Julie are moving into a home in your school district. Julie works nights so John is going to be staying most nights with Julie’s boyfriend Matt who lives in the neighboring district. Which school should John attend? Is John MKV eligible?
Why or why not?

41. Is Ben MKV-eligible? Do you register him? When does he start?
Scenario 3
Ben is a seven-year old living in a low- cost motel with his mom. She wants to register him in your district but he won’t have his transfer records for a couple of weeks.
Is Ben MKV-eligible? Do you register him? When does he start?

42. Two moms each have 3 children and are living at the same address.
Scenario 4
Two moms each have 3 children and are living at the same address.
Are these children homeless?

43. Professional development link

44. QUESTIONS?
Eileen Shoup