1. McKinney-Vento Homeless Education
An Orientation to
McKinney-Vento
Homeless Education

2. Agenda Introductions & Ground Rules
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance
The Law
Who’s Homeless
Educational Rights of Homeless Children and youth
Role of the Homeless Liaison
Break
Homelessness In Massachusetts
Best Practices
Hot Topics
Questions

3. Introductions Please include: Your name, District,
Your job/position, and
Your connection to homeless education

4. Ground Rules
While we will look at some cases, and that can be a good way of learning to work with the law, we must maintain the children and families’ confidentiality.
For questions regarding specific cases please withhold identifying information or see us during the break or after this session.

5. McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, 2002
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance
No Child Left Behind
So why do we even have this law?
Homelessness is a journey-
not an overnight event-that has enormous impact on children

6. Why McKinney-Vento? Homelessness affects
Whole family,
Attendance,
The ability to focus and learn,
Educational gaps due to high mobility and
Behavior
Homelessness is often accompanied with
Food insecurity
Lack of medical, dental and mental health services
Loss of connection to family, friends, community

7. The Law Definition, Who is Homeless?
Educational Rights of Students who are Homeless
School Selection & Enrollment
Transportation
Nutrition
Equal Access & Comparable Services
Title I
See ESE Homeless Education Advisories on Webpage
Role of the Homeless Liaison

8. Definition: Who is Homeless?
Anyone who lacks fixed regular and adequate nighttime residence.
This Includes:
Shelters and motels
On the street: cars, parks,….
Doubling up due to Economic hardship, loss of housing or similar reason
Unaccompanied youth
Awaiting foster care

9. Homeless? Case Study
A parent arrives at the Parent Information center to enroll her second grader. She explains that she has just arrived in town and does not have way to prove residency and is unwilling to show you a lease.
Is she housed? Or homeless?

10. Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless
School Selection & Enrollment
School of Origin
School/District last attended
School attended when student became homeless
Immediate Enrollment Locally
With or without Documentation
Unaccompanied Youth

11. Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless
Students Records
Transportation
Shared Responsibility
Special Education
Nutrition
Free Lunch and Breakfast
Paperwork
Food Insecurity

12. Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless
Equal Access & Comparable services
School Courses, Events, Activities
Student Support Services
Preschool
Charter Schools, Vocational Schools, School Choice
Title I
School-wide & Targeted Programs
Addressing the unique needs of homeless students

13. Homeless student interview their liaisons
NAEHCY video
Homeless student interview their liaisons

14. Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison
Facilitate Enrollment & Dispute Resolution Process
Transportation
Communicating with your counterparts

15. Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison
Identification
Building Awareness is Key
Professional Development and Training
School committee
Ensure Equal Access & Comparable Services
Referral to Outside Services

16. Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison
Data Collection
Tracking for internal purposes
Support Services
Transportation reimbursement
Annual ESE data collection
Students that are enrolled with you
Enter-do not delete

17. Your Role as the Homeless Education Liaison
ESE contact
You are our way and families’ way of reaching the district!
Monitoring and Compliance

18. Break
Take a few minutes for you and a few minutes to say hello to a colleague!

19. Journey Through Homelessness Case Study
A first grader has made several trips to the school nurse’s office in the past month with vague complaints of not feeling good. Mom recently mentioned that her work hours were cut and the family is struggling. Today the student falls asleep in the nurse’s office saying they cant sleep at home anymore.
What is going on? Could she be homeless?
What can the nurse do? What can you do?

20. Homelessness in Massachusetts
2012/13 School Year by the Numbers
Shelters 3,656
Doubled up 6,744
Unaccompanied
Unsheltered
Motels 2,582
Awaiting Foster Care 1,786
Total 15,812

21. Homelessness in Massachusetts
State Shelter system
Family Shelters
Motels
Unaccompanied Youth & Adult Shelters
Moving out of Shelter & Signing a Lease
Enrollment Verification Letter
Doubling up
Living with friends or relatives due to economic hardship, loss of housing and similar reason

22. Homelessness in Massachusetts
Summer Campgrounds & Winter Rentals
Couch surfing & unaccompanied youth
Department of Children and Families
STARR
TCU
Temporary foster care and foster care

23. Best Practices Policy Enrollment Identification, the key is training
Template at MASC.org
ESE summary page
Sample District Policies
Enrollment
Do your enrollment forms cite McKinney-Vento or families in transition
Identification, the key is training
Who: enrollment staff, guidance, principals, nurses
DVDs
Awareness building: school committee, community

24. Best Practices Student Support Services
Community Based Services and Outreach
Medical, Mental and Dental Health
Food Pantries & Clothing Banks
Local Transportation
Local Housing Advocates
Local Enrichment opportunities
Public Libraries
Municipal Parks and Recreation
YM/WCAs, Boys and Girls, Out of School Time Providers

25. Is your contact information up to date?
Your District’s Contact
Verify your contact information on the ESE website
Update is done by the District’s Directory Administrator- not by ESE;
Parents, providers and other state agencies reference this list

26. Hot Topics Commission on Youth Homelessness
Passed by the state legislature
ESE is a participating member
First report issued in May 2013
US ICH Open Doors focus on unaccompanied youth
MHSA Young Adult Resource Guide
Statewide Resource
Online at MHSA.net, click on Resources

27. Your Hot Topics? What are you seeing? What are you concerned about?
What’s working for you?

28. Questions? Did we miss anything Looking for more information NAEHCY
NCHE
National Runaway Switchboard
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless

29. ESE Office for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
We are Glad to Help…
ESE Office for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
Sarah Slautterback, State Coordinator
Elizabeth Harris, Program Coordinator
Website