Young Children in Homeless Families Ensuring Educational Opportunity

1. Young Children in Homeless FamiliesEnsuring Educational Opportunity Diana Bowman National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE 336-315-7453 dbowman@serve.org www.serve.org/nche

2. Challenges related to early childhood and homelessness • Inconsistent and inadequate health care • Inadequate nutrition • Inadequate or unstable housing • Adolescent mothers • Disrupted or limited family support • Lack of social support network • Emotional stress or depression

3. Special needs • 54 % of children in homeless situations experience some form of developmental delay • Homeless children are diagnosed with learning disabilities twice as often as other children • Less than ¼ of children in LA shelters who met criteria for SE evaluation actually received testing or placement • Over ½ of states reported in 2000 that homeless students faced barriers accessing SE programs

4. Early childhood programs address developmental and support issues that challenge homeless families and children • Offer children positive experiences with peers and other nurturing adults • Bolster parental efficacy with their children • Connect families with schools, agencies, and service providers • Help address developmental delays and disabilities early

5. Challenges facing young children in homeless families related to attending early childhood programs • Lack of preschool availability • Waiting lists • Lack of awareness of preschools on the part of homeless parents • Lack of identification of preschool-aged children; lack of outreach to families, shelters, agencies • Barriers related to enrollment, attendance, transportation, programming • Inflexible policies and structures • Lack of parent involvement strategies

6. McKinney-Vento Act—Who is Homeless? Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence • Living in shelters, hotels, motels, camping grounds • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings • Sharing housing (doubled-up) due to loss of housing or economic hardship • Migratory children who qualify as homeless

7. What does the McKinney-Vento Act ensure? • Immediate enrollment and full participation in classes • Comparable services—access to programs, transportation • Attending school with non-homeless children and youth • Local homeless education liaison in every school district

8. How does the McKinney-Vento Act apply to preschool-aged children? • Homeless children have equal access to the same public preschool programs • Preschool programs administered by SEAs or LEAs must comply with all provisions of the Act, including provisions on immediate enrollment, transportation, and comparable services • The State McKinney-Vento plan must describe procedures that ensure children who are homeless have access to preschool programs • LEA liaisons must ensure that families and children receive educational services, including Head Start, Even Start, and preschool programs administered by the LEA

9. How does Title I apply to preschool-aged homeless children? • Title I preschool programs are operated by the LEA and must follow the mandates of the McKinney-Vento Act • An LEA must reserve funds for homeless children who do not attend participating Title I schools and may provide support services to children in shelters and other locations where homeless children live • An LEA may use reserved funds to provide a homeless student with services that are not available from other sources

10. How does Head Start apply? • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a memo in 1992 describing how Head Start grantees should collaborate with State Homeless Education Coordinators, local liaisons, and community agencies and adjust their programs and priorities to serve children in homeless situations. www.serve.org/nche/downloads/hhs_preschool_memo.pdf

11. How does IDEA—Child Find apply? • States must ensure that all students with disabilities residing in the State who need special education are identified, located, and evaluated. • This requirement specifically applies to young children experiencing homelessness.

12. Helpful strategies for serving young homeless children • Interagency collaboration/interagency agreements • Shared screenings and evaluations • Child-centered decision-making • Awareness resources throughout the community • Staff training • Include homelessness as a criteria for priority enrollment • Provide vouchers for slots • Provide transportation • Flexible options on tardiness and absences • Strong family component; outreach to homeless parents