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Meeting the Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness: District Responsibilities

Meeting the Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness: District Responsibilities. CESA 10 October 27, 2010. There is no homelessness in our town…. Rural Homelessness. 1/10 th of nation’s homeless are in rural settings Single Caucasian mothers Families in poverty

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Meeting the Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness: District Responsibilities

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  1. Meeting the Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness:District Responsibilities CESA 10 October 27, 2010

  2. There is no homelessness in our town…

  3. Rural Homelessness • 1/10th of nation’s homeless are in rural settings • Single Caucasian mothers • Families in poverty • Persons with poor credit/job history • Migrant workers • Persons with criminal records • At-risk teenagers • Undocumented persons

  4. But we don’t have homeless shelters…

  5. Typical Rural Homeless Situations • Living with another family (doubling-up) • Living in their car • Living in a camper/tent • Living in substandard housing • Living where an economy is declining • Living in inexpensive motels • Living in a non-residence shelter (barn, pole shed, etc.)

  6. We have so few homeless, why should we identify?

  7. Benefits of Identification • A typical homeless student can lose half a year’s worth of learning when transferring schools. • Students identified as homeless qualify for the Free Meal Program for entire school year. • Quite easy to fulfill needs and makes a huge impact on students and families • Nurtures and enhances school-community relationships

  8. What is the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act?

  9. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act • Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (1987) • Representative Stewart B. McKinney (R-CT) (1931-1987) • Representative Bruce F. Vento (D-MN) (1940-2000) • January 2002 Reauthorization – The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act)

  10. Homeless Student Rights • Immediate Enrollment without paperwork • School Selection (school of origin or area) • Transportation to school of origin • Comparable educational opportunities and services • Prohibition of segregation • Public posting of rights

  11. Who is considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act? • Anyone who lacks a ‘fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence.’ • Doubled-up with family or friends • Emergency or Transitional Shelters • Motels or hotels • Campgrounds • Cars • Public or Private places not designed for living • Outside (parks), unsheltered, under structures • Substandard housing • Children awaiting permanent foster care

  12. Unaccompanied Youth • Attending school, but not in the physical custody of parent or guardian • Thrown out • Run away • Abandoned

  13. But we have very little time or staff to keep track of these students and their needs.

  14. Typical Needs • Referrals and connections • Transportation assistance • School supplies • Clothing • Food • One advocate solely focused on their needs while they are in this difficult situation.

  15. So how can we keep track of them simply?

  16. Simple Identification Process • Inform and Educate staff on what may be a homeless situation and who to call • Disperse referral forms to school secretaries, social workers, nurses, etc. • Make a list of all community resources (both within your community and communities nearby) • Make connections with volunteer citizens • Buy a crate, file folders, and paper • District Liaison may delegate responsibility

  17. But we have no resources in our community….

  18. Creative Ideas for Rural towns • Connect with churches for volunteers • Run a food drive through your school and stock a small amount for needy families • Collect clothing donations and store • Make connections with volunteer citizens • Find volunteers and donations through PTA • Connect with your closest funded school district

  19. District Responsibilities 1. Identify a Homeless Liaison • Provide his/her contact information to district and community staff through a staff meeting, phone call, email, website and/or district newsletter. Sample article http://www.cesa10.k12.wi.us/index.php?Prog=SDocument&Task=Init&ID=21 • Display an educational rights poster in each school building • Complete PI-Q03-8 Local Use Form Homeless Student Identification for each homeless student • Ensure that homeless preschool children are identified

  20. District Responsibilities Identify a Homeless Liaison continued • Assist unaccompanied youth to • Sign up for Badger Care (access.com) • Apply for food stamps • Discuss post-secondary plans and assist student to complete a FAFSA form

  21. District Responsibilities 2. Provide inservice training for all district staff involved that includes: • developing an understanding of the definition of homeless • informing families of the educational rights of homeless • maintaining confidentiality • identifying the procedure to refer homeless families to the liaison

  22. District Responsibilities 3. Inform homeless families and youth about their educational rights including the right to: • continue to go to the school they were attending prior to becoming homeless, if that is their preference and it is feasible • receive transportation to go to the school they were attending prior to becoming homeless, if requested • enroll in and attend school without having a permanent address or available medical or educational records

  23. District Responsibilities 3. Inform homeless families and youth about their educational rights including the right to: • enroll preschool children in district preschool programs • receive the same access to programs and services as all other children, including transportation • receive information from the school for help in getting food, clothing, and school supplies • receive free lunch, books and supplies, Title I services, course fees

  24. District Responsibilities 4. Provide homeless families and youth with a list of community agencies that provide services related to:  • Clothing • Food • Transportation • Housing support • Employment • Counseling • Health Services

  25. District Responsibilities 5. Review district policies and procedures including:  • DPI guidance on pupil records at http://dpi.wi.gov/homeless/forms.html • Complaint procedures • Policies and procedures to ensure the removal of academic barriers including • -lack of transportation • -inability to pay for books, school supplies, eye glasses, program apparel, etc. • -policies requiring district residency

  26. Is this a homeless situation? • A married couple divorces and one of the parents moves in with their parents, along with her/his children, until the parent can find work and an apartment. Homeless??? • Although the parent is looking for employment and low-income housing, a year has gone by and the parent still has not been able to find a job that pays enough to allow the family to move into their own apartment. Homeless???

  27. Is this a homeless situation? • Your son has asked if his buddy can stay a few nights at your house. You discover that your son’s friend has not been home for several weeks due to “family difficulties.” Homeless? • A family was evicted from their housing and is living doubled-up with relatives in the next school district.

  28. Is this a homeless situation? • A family was evicted from their housing and is living doubled-up with relatives in the next school district. The kids attended School District A and due to displacement are now living in School District B. The family wants the the students to remain in School District A. The family plans to move back to their original district once they can save enough money to afford the security deposit and rent. There are three children in the family: a 5th grader, 3rd grader and preschooler. • Homeless? What are the district’s transportation responsibilities?

  29. Is your district in compliance? • McKinney-Vento Checklist (PI-QO6-01) http://dpi.wi.gov/homeless/forms.html

  30. National Homeless Organizations National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) Barbara Duffield, Policy Director, bduffield@naehcy.org www.naehcy.org Ph: 202-364-7392 National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Diana Bowman, Director, dbowman@serve.org www.serve.org/nche Ph: 336-315-7453 National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP) Joy Moses, Education Staff Attorney, jmoses@nlchp.org www.nlchp.org Ph: 202-638-2535 U.S. Department of Education Gary Rutkin, Coordinator, Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, Gary.Rutkin@ed.gov www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html Ph: 202-260-4412

  31. State Homeless Resources Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Mary Maronek, State Education of Homeless Children & Youth Coordinator, mary.maronek@dpi.wi.gov http://dpi.wi.gov/homeless/ Ph: 608-261-6322 CESA 10 Nancy Forseth, ESEA Coordinator, forseth@cesa10.k12.wi.us http://www.cesa10.k12.wi.us/index.php?Prog=SDocument&Task=Init&ID=21 Ph: 715-720-2045

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