1. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento and Foster Care College Connections for Student Success Conference Tuesday March 31, 2015 Eric McGhee, Grants Program Manager Erica Glenn, McKinney-Vento Program Consultant 1

2. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Agenda Introductions McKinney-Vento Overview Data Collection Foster Care Transportation Questions 2

3. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento 3

4. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless Students Individuals whose nighttime residence is NOT: o Fixed—stationary, permanent, and not subject to change o Regular—used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis o Adequate—sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in the home (42 U.S.C.§11434A(2)(B)(i)) Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)? 4

5. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento The Homeless definition includes children and youth who are: sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; living in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned in hospitals; 5

6. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento Homeless also includes children and youth who are: awaiting foster care placement; living in a primary nighttime residence that is 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/train stations, or similar settings; migratory – who qualify as homeless living in circumstances described above. 6

7. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento Definition of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY) Unaccompanied = not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian; in practical terms, this means the youth does not live with the parent or guardian. 2-Step Process: 1. Does the student’s living arrangement meet the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless? 2. Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied? 7

8. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento Unaccompanied youth have the same rights as other students experiencing homelessness. Unaccompanied youth have run away from home, been thrown out of their homes, and/or been abandoned by parents or guardians. These young people are separated from their parents for a variety of reasons: o Over half report being physically abused at home. o Over one third report sexual abuse. o Over two-thirds report that at least one of their parents abuses drugs or alcohol. 8

9. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org McKinney-Vento State educational agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) must develop, review and revise their policies to remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of children and youth in homeless situations. [722(g)(1)(I)] Immediate enrollment of Homeless students, regardless of missing documentation. Transportation to & from the “school of origin.” Homeless children and youths are not stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as Homeless. Each LEA liaison for homeless children and youths shall ensure that…(ii) homeless children and youths enroll in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in schools of that local education agency. [722(g)(6)(A)(ii)] 9

10. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Data Collection 10

11. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Data Collection ENVIRONMENT CODE indicates the type of residential environment in which a student resides or the type of school the student attended at anytime during this school year at this school. Code only those students for whom one of the codes below apply. For students where codes do not apply, leave blank. Data Element ID:STU045 Layout ID:C045 11 Environment CodeDescription 1Resides in a local institution for neglected 2Resides in a local institution for delinquent 3Homeless 4Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

12. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Data Collection Primary Nighttime Residence Shelters o Transitional housing, Awaiting Foster Care Doubled-up o Living with another family Unsheltered o Cars, Parks, Campgrounds, Abandoned buildings, Temporary trailer Hotels/Motels 12

13. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Data Collection Georgia – Children and youth experiencing homelessness identified by LEAs: FY14 = 29,138 FY13 = 35,764 FY12 = 35,048 FY11 = 31,384 FY10 = 27,338 FY09 = 23,724 FY08 = 15,700 GaDOE Student Information System (SIS) – Unduplicated count 13

14. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Data Collection Foster Care and Education Number of children and youth in foster care on September 30, 2012 nationally o 397,122 Percent of 17-18 year olds in care who have experienced 5+ school changes o 34% Percent of 17-18 year old foster youth who want to go to college o 84% Percent of foster youth who graduated from high school who attend college o 20% Percent of former foster youth who attain a certificate/AA/bachelor's degree o 9% Georgia Department of Children and Family Services (DFCS) 14

15. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Data Collection Georgia - Children in Foster Care: Children in care on September 30, 2013 o 7,642 Children in care on September 30, 2014 o 9,124 Average daily children in care between October 2013 to September 2014 o 8,294 Total served between October 2013 to September 2014 o 15,197 Georgia Department of Children and Family Services (DFCS) http://fosteringcourtimprovement.org/ga/ 15

16. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Data Collection By age 24… Foster Youth Comparison Ever homeless 24% NA Currently employed 48% 74% Women ever pregnant 75% 40% Median income $8,000 $18,300 Men convicted of crime 59% 10% Women convicted of crime 28% 2% Mark Courtney, et al, Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 23 and 24, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, 2011. Comparison group for this study: National Longitudinal Study Of Adolescent Health 16

17. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Foster Care 17

18. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Foster Care Foster care means 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions, and preadoptive homes. Georgia Department of Children and Family Services (DFCS) 18

19. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Foster Care Educational Programming, Assessment, and Consultation (EPAC) The EPAC Unit provides comprehensive academic support services focusing on improving educational outcomes and the academic achievement of children and youth, ages 5 to 17 in the custody of Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. EPAC services are supported through TANF funding and are initiated through case manager or CPS referrals. Upon initial placement into foster care, children and youth are referred to EPAC for a comprehensive diagnostic educational assessment and subsequently, are monitored for ensuring adequate academic progress. 19

20. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Foster Care EPAC Unit 15 Regionally Assigned Education Support Monitors (ESM) ESMs provide direct educational support to school aged youth in care ESMs serve as liaisons between local education agencies, Community and DFCS 20

21. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Foster Care 21

22. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation 22

23. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Comparable services Removal of Barriers Prompt Provision of Transportation o Immediate enrollment o During disputes School of Origin (In order to counteract educational disruption caused by mobility) o The school last attended o The school attended during the initial episode of homelessness o The zoned school where currently located 23

24. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation School selection decision should consider the following feasibility factors: o Age of student o Distance of commute (NOT COST; rather, impact on student’s education) o Safety o Need for special instruction (e.g. special education and related services) o Length of anticipated stay in temporary location o Time remaining in school year o Wishes of parent/guardian and student 24

25. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Local homeless education liaisons must ensure that the parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth, or any unaccompanied homeless youth, is fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to and from the school of origin, and is assisted in accessing transportation to the school selected. Local educational agencies (LEAs) must provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to and from their schools of origin, if requested by a parent or guardian, or if requested by the local liaison on behalf of an unaccompanied homeless youth. 25

26. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Community Collaboration Local liaisons should establish cooperative relationships with community agencies that serve homeless families, youth, and children. A community-wide commitment to assist homeless families with children and unaccompanied homeless youth can result in resource sharing, including transportation resources. Many LEAs have been able to arrange transportation using shelter or other service vans. Some public transportation systems donate bus passes or other transportation services to school districts for use with homeless students. Community foundations often are willing to contribute to meeting the needs of homeless students, including transportation needs. 26

27. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Collaboration with Parents Parents who are experiencing homelessness generally appreciate being included in decisions involving the education of their child(ren), and should be part of the conversation on developing any plans for transporting their children to and from the school of origin. Moreover, parents should be provided with clear expectations for their role in carrying out the plan, such as: Committing to getting their children to a bus stop on time. Notifying the transportation department when a child will not be attending school to avoid unnecessary trips. Following procedures for utilizing gas vouchers. 27

28. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation 28

29. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Educational Programming, Assessment, and Consultation (EPAC) DHS Policy 10.13 – Education Stability This policy was disseminated to the field on August 1, 2013. It provides practice guidance to direct service workers and all other field staff about Education Stability for children and youth in foster care. This policy specifically covers how EPAC, through its Education Support Monitors, engage case managers and provide educational consultation in the following areas: o Collaborations with Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) o Determination of Appropriateness of Educational Settings o DFCS contact for District Level Homeless Liaisons o Assist in development of RTI, IEP, and/or 504 Plans o Homeless and Unaccompanied Youth Referrals o Educational Stability Transportation Funding Request Protocol 29

30. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Foster Care Educational Stability is essential to a child’s well- being. It is imperative that DFCS Case Managers and other direct service staff responsible for case planning, engage in the necessary steps to make best interest determinations regarding the stability of educational settings for children and youth as they enter and remain in care. 30

31. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Foster Care When a child has been identified as a Homeless and/or Unaccompanied Youth, the following procedure will be followed by the Division of Family and Children Services In-take Officer(s). 1.When an identified homeless or unaccompanied youth has been identified to CPS/In-Take, a referral form (176) will be completed and submitted to Educational Programming, Assessment and Consultation Unit (EPAC). 2.Referral form will be processed by EPAC (Operations Analyst) who will record the provided information in the Homeless & Unaccompanied Youth (HUY) Data System. 3.Based upon the Local Educational Agency identified on the referral, EPAC will contact the appropriate Homeless Liaison who should then direct services for the youth under the guidelines of McKinney- Vento. 4.EPAC/DFCS will periodically check-in with the Homeless Liaison to ensure services were provided to youth. 31

32. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Foster Care – Steps to Ensure Stability 32 Educational Stability Field Guide Educational Stability Checklist Education Transportation Funding Request Protocol

33. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Foster Care - Transportation Protocol to Support Educational Stability Educational Stability transportation funds should be used to support the practice of ensuring foster children and youth remain in their home school/school of origin as part of Educational Stability 33

34. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Foster Care Transportation Options Foster Parent Public transportation/Mass Transit Van pools Taxis Private transportation services Foster Care Determining Factors Age of child/youth Location of placement and distance from school of origin Child/youth’s physical and cognitive abilities Child/youth’s developmental abilities 34

35. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Transportation Foster Care - Reasonable Distance Determination The following considerations should be made when determining if the school of origin is an unreasonable distance from the child/youth’s placement: o Does the commute exceed one hour (one-way) or 60 miles in distance (one-way)? REMINDER: Foster parents/caregivers can provide transportation to ensure educational stability for distances of 25 miles or less. o Will the cost of the services exceed $2,000.00 per month? 35

36. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Questions 36

37. Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org Richard Woods, Georgia’s School Superintendent “Educating Georgia’s Future” gadoe.org GaDOE Contacts Erica Glenn Grant Program Consultant Homeless Education 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30334 (678) 316-5991 eglenn@doe.k12.ga.us Eric McGhee Grant Program Manager N&D, Homeless, REAP 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 651-7555 emcghee@doe.k12.ga.us 37