1. Homeless Education Act No Child Left Behind, Title X, Part C
McKinney-Vento
Homeless Education Act
No Child Left Behind, Title X, Part C
Effective Date of New Provisions: July 1, 2002
Developed by the California Department of Education

2. Developed by the California Department of Education
Definition of Homeless According to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act, 42 U.S.C , the term “homeless children and youth” means…
Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
Sharing of housing
Motels, hotels
Public or private place not designed for sleeping
Trailer parks
Cars, parks, and abandoned buildings
Developed by the California Department of Education

3. Developed by the California Department of Education
Definition of Homeless
Continued…
Substandard housing
Shelters
Abandoned in hospitals
Campgrounds
Unaccompanied youths
Awaiting foster care placement
Migratory children who qualify as homeless
Developed by the California Department of Education

4. Definition of Homeless Continued…
Incarcerated Students
Are NOT considered homeless, even if their family is homeless.
They are part of the juvenile justice system and subject to the requirements and regulations thereof.
Transitional Housing Programs
Transitional housing programs, like transitional living programs and transitional shelters, are homeless situations under the Act.
Developed by the California Department of Education

5. Developed by the California Department of Education
= Equal Access =
Homeless students have equal access to all school programs: GATE, Special Ed., Migrant Ed., ELL programs, Vocational Ed.
They automatically qualify for Title I, School Meals, and After School Programs
Homeless Preschoolers may be given priority enrollment
Unaccompanied Youth have the right to enroll without a legal guardian
Developed by the California Department of Education

6. Developed by the California Department of Education
Educational Barriers
Enrollment Requirements
-Residency requirements
-School records
-Immunizations
-Legal guardianship requirements
Developed by the California Department of Education

7. Educational Barriers Continued…
High mobility
Lack of transportation
Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc.
Poor health, fatigue, hunger
Prejudice/Stereotypes
Developed by the California Department of Education

8. Local Educational Agency Homeless Liaison
All local educational agencies must have a district liaison
LEA liaisons must ensure that:
-Homeless children and youth are identified
-Homeless students enroll in, and have full & equal opportunity to succeed in, the schools of the LEA
-Homeless families, children, and youth receive educational services
Developed by the California Department of Education

9. Local Educational Agency Homeless Liaison Continued…
Parents or guardians are informed of educational opportunities available to their children
Public notice of the educational rights is disseminated
Enrollment disputes are mediated
Liaisons are required to assist unaccompanied youth in placement/enrollment decisions
Developed by the California Department of Education

10. Local Educational Agency Homeless Liaison Continued…
Liaisons are required to ensure that unaccompanied youth are immediately enrolled in school
Liaisons are required to assist children and youth who do not have immunizations
Liaisons are required to collaborate with the state coordinator and community and school personnel
Developed by the California Department of Education

11. Identification Strategies
Coordinate with community service agencies, e.g. shelters; soup kitchens; food banks; street outreach teams; drop-in centers; departments of welfare, housing, and public health; and faith-based organizations.
Provide outreach materials and posters in places where low-income families and youth in high-risk situations are likely to see them, e.g. motels, campgrounds, and laundromats.
Developed by the California Department of Education

12. Identification Strategies Continued…
Develop relationships with truancy officials and/or other attendance officers.
Provide awareness activities for school staff e.g. registrars, secretaries, school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, teachers, bus drivers, and administrators.
Avoid using the word “homeless” in initial contacts with school personnel, families, or youth
Developed by the California Department of Education

13. Developed by the California Department of Education
Effects of Mobility
Students who switch schools frequently score lower on standardized tests. (One study found mobile students scored 20 points lower than non-mobile students.)
Mobility also hurts non-mobile students. (One study found average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly lower in high schools with high student mobility rates.)
Developed by the California Department of Education

14. Effects of Mobility Continued…
It takes children 4-6 months to recover academically after changing schools.
Students suffer psychologically, socially, and academically from mobility. Mobile students are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble.
Developed by the California Department of Education

15. Effects of Mobility Continued…
Mobility during high school greatly diminishes likelihood of graduation. (One study found students who changed high schools even once were less than half as likely as stable students to graduate, even controlling for other factors.)
Developed by the California Department of Education

16. Developed by the California Department of Education
Immediate Enrollment
“Enroll” and “enrollment” are defined to include attending classes and participating fully in school activities.
Homeless children must be immediately enrolled.
No prior records are needed, but should be obtained by the enrolling school as quickly as possible.
This includes birth certificates, social security numbers, immunization records, transcripts, and other records.
Developed by the California Department of Education

17. Enrollment Strategies
Train all school enrollment staff, secretaries, school counselors, school social workers and principals on the legal requirements for enrollment.
Review and revise LEA policies, as necessary.
Develop residency forms to replace typical proof of residency.
Accept school records directly from families and youth.
Establish school-based immunization clinics or other opportunities for on-site immunizations.
Developed by the California Department of Education

18. Dispute Resolution Whenever there is a disagreement, the school must:
Immediately enroll the student in school according to parent’s wishes
Keep the student until the dispute is settled
Provide transportation to the school of origin
Explain the decision in writing to parents
Contact the LEA liaison to assist in settling the dispute with parents, guardian, or youth.
If the dispute is not resolved at the district level, the county liaison may be asked to facilitate communication.
If case is still not resolved, refer to state coordinator.
Developed by the California Department of Education

19. Developed by the California Department of Education
School Selection
Students have the right to stay in their “school of origin” to the extent feasible
-for the duration of homelessness,
-if in the best interest of student, and
-if parent requests.
“School of origin” is the school the child attended when permanently housed or when last enrolled.
Developed by the California Department of Education

20. School Selection Continued…
Students can stay in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless, and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing. [722(g)(3)(A)(i)]; [722(g)(3)(A)(i)(II)]
If a student is sent to a school other than that requested by a parent or guardian, the district must provide a written explanation to the parent or guardian of its decision and their right to appeal. [722(g)(3)(B)(ii)]
Developed by the California Department of Education

21. Feasibility- Sample Criteria
Continuity of instruction
Age of the child / youth
Safety of the student
Length of stay in shelter
Likely area in which family or youth will find permanent housing
Developed by the California Department of Education

22. Feasibility- Sample Criteria continued…
Student’s need for special instructional programs
Impact of commute on education
School placement of sibling(s)
Schools attended by other children and youth at the same shelter
Time remaining in the school year
Developed by the California Department of Education

23. Developed by the California Department of Education
Transportation
Must be provided or arranged to and from the school of origin
School districts that provide transportation to and from the school of origin have documented an increase in attendance and achievement which resulted in an increase in funding to the districts
Developed by the California Department of Education

24. Transportation continued…
For unaccompanied youth, LEA’s must provide or arrange transportation to and from the school of origin at the LEA homeless liaison’s request [722(g)(1)(J)(iii)]
If an LEA does not provide transportation to any of its students and it is determined that this placement is the best interest, then the LEA is required to provide or arrange transportation.
Developed by the California Department of Education

25. Transportation continued…
LEAs cannot use Title I or Title V funds to transport homeless students.
Once the homeless student is permanently housed, the LEA may use Title I or Title V funds to continue transporting the student.
Developed by the California Department of Education

26. Transportation for Pre-school
Compulsory education and access to pre-school educational services – even if provided by the State or local governmental agency – cannot be held to the same standards.
There is no concept for a “school of origin” for a voluntary pre-school educational service.
Only special education requires pre-school education for 3-5 year olds, and this is by Federal law.
Developed by the California Department of Education

27. Transportation Strategies
Coordinate with local housing authorities and placement agencies to house student near the school of origin.
Re-route school buses (including special education, magnet school and other buses), and ensure that buses travel to shelters, transitional living programs, and motels.
Develop close ties among LEA homeless liaisons, school staff, and pupil transportation staff to arrange and coordinate transportation.
Developed by the California Department of Education

28. Transportation Strategies Continued…
Coordinate with local housing authorities, placement agencies, and social services for foster care placement to house students near their school of origin.
If the districts cannot agree on who will pay the transportation costs, the districts must share the costs.
In addition to providing transportation to the school of origin, LEA’s must provide students in homeless situations with transportation services comparable to those provided to other students.
Developed by the California Department of Education

29. Transportation Strategies Continued…
Provide passes for public transportation, including passes for caretakers when necessary.
Take advantage of transportation systems used by public assistance agencies.
Reimburse parents, guardians, or unaccompanied youth for gas.
Use approved van or taxi services.
Use local funds for transportation.
Developed by the California Department of Education

30. Developed by the California Department of Education
Segregation
States are prohibited from segregating homeless students in separate schools, separate programs within schools, or separate settings within schools.
Services provided with McKinney-Vento Act funds must not replace the regular academic program and must be designed to expand upon or improve services provided as part of the school’s regular academic program.
Developed by the California Department of Education

31. Segregation Continued…
It is the policy of Congress that homelessness alone is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.
SEA's and LEA’s must adopt policies and practices to ensure that homeless children and youth are not segregated or stigmatized on the basis of their status as homeless.
Developed by the California Department of Education

32. Title I, Part A Reservation
The LEA will reserve Title I, Part A funds to provide comparable services to homeless children and youth to ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including preschool education, as provided to other children and youth. This reservation requirement is not formula driven. The amount reserved is to be determined by the LEA, as appropriate. The California Department of Education recommends reserving one percent off the top. [PL , Section 1113(c)(3)(A)]
Developed by the California Department of Education

33. Developed by the California Department of Education
Title I Requirements
Homeless children are by definition automatically eligible for Title I services.
Title I requires a set aside reservation to be placed in the Consolidated Application for categorical funding.
Title I requires a description of the Title I services to be placed in the Consolidated Application and LEA Plan.
There are no anticipated changes to guidance except to reinforce the USDE position that homeless students must receive equal access to the same high academic standards in a mainstream setting.
Developed by the California Department of Education

34. Developed by the California Department of Education
Title I Strategies
Establish a formula to allocate Title I set-asides for homeless children and youth.
Use Title I funds (including set-aside funds) to support the LEA homeless liaison position and/or to meet basic needs of students experiencing homelessness (e.g. clothing, school supplies, health concerns).
Use Title I funds to provide tutoring and/or outreach services to children and youth living in shelters, transitional living programs, motels, and other temporary residences.
Developed by the California Department of Education

35. Title I Strategies Continued…
Collect data on students experiencing homelessness as part of the overall district-wide data collection system.
Pool Title I and McKinney-Vento funds to provide a comprehensive program for homeless students, ensuring that specific needs of children experiencing homelessness or high mobility are met.
Ensure coordination between Title I and McKinney-Vento through state and local planning and activities.
Developed by the California Department of Education

36. Data Collection for All LEAs
Provide the number of homeless children and youth in your local education agency (LEA) enrolled in public school during the school year according these grade level groups: --K-5
--6-8
--9-12
--Total
Developed by the California Department of Education

37. Data Collection for All LEAs Continued…
Provide the total number of homeless children and youth, excluding preschoolers, who have the following as their primary night residence for the school year:
Shelters
Doubled-up
Unsheltered (e.g. cars, parks, campgrounds)
Hotels / Motels
Other
Developed by the California Department of Education

38. Data Collection for All LEAs Continued…
Due to KCSOS by July 1, 2005
Due to California Department of Education (CDE) by September 1, 2005
CDE data collection due to United States Department of Education October 1, 2005
Developed by the California Department of Education

39. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Funding
3 Year Funding Cycle:
July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2009
New Request for Application (RFA): Coming Summer 2005
Join CDE’s Funding Mailing List at
Developed by the California Department of Education

40. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Authorized Activities
Tutoring, supplemental instruction and enriched services
Expedited evaluations
Professional development to heighten understanding and sensitivity
Medical, dental, mental, and other health services referrals
Assistance to defray the excess cost of transportation
Appropriate early childhood education programs
Developed by the California Department of Education

41. Developed by the California Department of Education
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Authorized Activities continued…
Activities to attract, engage, and retain homeless children
Before and after school, mentoring, and summer programs
Payment for tracking, obtaining, and transferring records for the purpose of enrolling students
Parent education and training
Coordination activities between school and agencies
Provision of violence prevention counseling
Developed by the California Department of Education

42. Developed by the California Department of Education
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Authorized Activities continued…
Activities to address domestic violence needs
Adaptation of space and purchase of supplies to provide services
Provision of school supplies
Provision of other extraordinary or emergency assistance
Developed by the California Department of Education

43. Developed by the California Department of Education
Resources
CDE Homeless Education
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
National Center for Homeless Education
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
National Network for Youth
Developed by the California Department of Education

44. Developed by the California Department of Education
Contact Us
Janis Jones, KCSOS (661)
Leanne Wheeler, CDE (916)
Lucille Gonzales, CDE (916)
Developed by the California Department of Education