CLAIBORNE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNUAL TRAINING SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN TRANSITION

1. CLAIBORNE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNUAL TRAINING SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN TRANSITION Reviewed July 2019

2. Session Overview Children and youth living in transition face exceptional daily circumstances that force them to live life in the margins. Conditions beyond their control make them extremely vulnerable and more likely to be invisible where they need significant support: school.

3. Definitions & Rights under McKinney-Vento

4. “Homeless Children & Youth” Individuals who lack a fixed, regular,& adequatenighttime residence: • Fixed: not subject to change, permanent, stationary • Regular: consistent, routine, predictable, normal, standard • Adequate: sufficient to meet physical & psychological needsCan the student go to the same place (fixed) every night (regular) to sleep in a safe & sufficient (adequate) space?

5. AND includes children & youths who are: • sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason;living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations;living in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned in hospitals

6. AND includes children & youths who are: • staying at 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, sub-standard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; • migrantsliving in the conditions described above

7. Common Signs of Homelessness • Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleeping in class • Poor hygiene • Chronic hunger • Medical, dental needs • Shyness or withdrawn • Erratic attendance; tardiness • Transiency • Fear of abandonment • Anxiety

8. Major Themes of McKinney-Vento • Identification • School stability, immediate enrollment, & access • School of origin & transportation • Enrollment documents not required (immunizations, etc.) • Supports for academic success • Child-centered decision making on case-by-case basis • Critical role of the local homeless education liaisons • Unique barriers

9. National Trends: Living in Transition

10. Impacts on Learning

11. Children & Youth Living in Transition Are* • Sick four times more often   • Hungry at twice the rate • Three times more likelyto have emotional& behavioral problems • Four times more likely tohave delayed development *in comparison to their housed peers

12. Children & Youth Living in Transition* *in comparison to their housed peers • Are diagnosed with learningdisabilities two times more often • Score lower on standardized tests • Are less likely to graduate • Participate less in extracurricular activities

13. Effective Practices

14. Common School-Level Issues • Immediate enrollment for students out of zone • Determination of qualification for McKinney-Vento services • Unavailable or insufficient proof of residency • Incomplete or unavailable records • No immunizations • Transportation • Absences and tardiness • Payments of fees, etc. • Academic-related concerns • Completing homework, projects, returning signed paperwork

15. Questions to Consider • Are there procedures in place for enrolling & identifying students experiencing homelessness? • Is a team in place for supporting students? • Are school & district staff trained at least annually? • Are signs about the rights of students living in transition posted in conspicuous places? • Are there policies to ensure that students in transition are not victims of discrimination?

16. Collaboration At the District Level Federal Programs Family Resource Center Transportation School Nutrition Exceptional Students Preschool Supervisor Social Workers Fiscal Department Accountability Technology / EIS Team At the School Level Administrators Enrollment Personnel Front Office Staff Attendance, Truancy officers Cafeteria Workers Bus Drivers School Counselors Nurses Teachers & Aides

17. Collaboration • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) • Department of Children Services • Health & Human Services Department • Community food pantries; USDA • Faith-based organizations & community charities • Local shelters & transitional housing • Local businesses • Post-secondary institutions • McK-V liaisons in other districts • Juvenile justice system

18. Reporting Responsibilities of All LEAs • Immunization Report (due before July 30 in ePlan) T.C.A. § 49-6-5001(g) The Commissioner of Education must report annually the number of homeless children who enrolled in public schools without immunization or proof of immunization and the average length of time required for these children to be immunized or to obtain immunization records. *ALSO, state law regarding students without immunizations not counting towards funding based on average daily attendance. • Reporting Student Counts & Classifications • Verify (& enter) nighttime residence code (1-4) • Check LEA list against EIS list

19. Effective Practices • Collaborate with school supports & with LEA homeless liaison • Refer the student for academic services (such as Before and Afterschool Programs—LEAPS, intervention, etc…) • Suggest participation in extra-curricular activities • Collaborate & communicate with families • Work with other departments in your school & district • Food Services, Transportation, SPED, Family Resource Center, Family Engagement, Coordinated School Health

20. Effective Practices • Ensure that out-of-class assignments are realistic expectations (project materials, computer and/or internet access) • Partner with community agencies & businesses • Food banks, post-secondary institutions, non-profits, public libraries, Boys & Girls Club, HUD, Health Department, etc. • Create support teams for students to include a mentor/advocate who meets regularly to discuss issues, needs, concerns, and reasons to celebrate • Train educators and relevant staff members new to the profession & school annually

21. Important Reminders DO • Be aware of the manyreasons for homelessness & the signs of homelessness • Be mindful of words, tone, & actions; be respectful • Provide appropriate support and advocacy • Collaborate with other departments & agencies DON’T Judge Violate FERPA Discriminate Hold children accountable for conditions beyond their control

22. RESPONSIBILITIES • Immediate Enrollment –Any homeless student should be enrolled immediately, even if they do not have all required documents for enrollment. (Schools are required to give parent/guardian a copy of their rights upon enrollment.) • Dispute Resolution Procedures --- A written copy of the Dispute Resolution Procedures will be given to the parents of a homeless student or unaccompanied youth if the school is notified that a dispute is being initiated. • Provide Assistance --Staff members are required to assist families in acquiring necessary documents for enrollment. • Waive Required Proof of Residency –Homeless families, will more than likely, struggle to provide this documentation.

23. RESPONSIBILITIES • School of Origin —School of origin is defined as the school the student attended when permanently housed, or the school in which the student was last enrolled, including a preschool and a designated receiving school at the next grade level for a feeder school. ~The student’s best interest should be taken into consideration when determining school of attendance. • Use Appropriate Verification Strategies —Used to determine if a student is homeless. For example, requiring a sworn statement from a landlord for school enrollment purposes places an undue burden not only on the homeless parent, guardian, or youth but also on their hosts, who may be reluctant to provide documentation for fear of violating their lease terms.

24. RESPONSIBILITIES • Disputes—The Claiborne County School System has a Dispute Resolution Procedure which includes procedural safeguards to ensure the process is impartial yet accessible to homeless students and their families. This dispute resolution process includes notice of educational rights under the McKinney-Vento Act, including the right to file an appeal, a step-by-step description of how to appeal a decision, list of legal and advocacy service providers in the area, contact information for the LEA Homeless Liaison and State Coordinator, and relevant timelines. It is the responsibility of each school to provide parents and/or unaccompanied youth the dispute resolution process in writing—upon notification of a dispute being initiated.

25. RESPONSIBILITIES • Maintaining Records of Disputes —If the parent of a homeless student or a homeless unaccompanied youth initiates a dispute at the school level, the school principal is responsible for documenting all necessary information related to the dispute. Documentation related to the dispute should be kept on file at the school level and a copy should be given to the parent or unaccompanied youth. The LEA Homeless Liaison should be contacted immediately and a copy of the documentation related to the dispute should be sent to the LEA Homeless Liaison.

26. RESPONSIBILITIES • Preventing Barriers--Barriers to full participation in school must be eliminated, including barriers “due to outstanding fees or fines….” Fees for extracurricular activities should be waived or paid with donations or district funds. • Schools should ensure all homeless students are linked with programs and services to meet their needs. • Homeless youth should be given opportunities to make up credits lost due to homelessness. • Parents of homeless students should be provided with opportunities to participate in their children’s education and they should also be given information regarding educational and related opportunities available to their children.

27. Confidentiality • At the beginning of each school year, all employees are required to sign a confidentiality agreement. • Information concerning homeless students is required to be kept confidential by all staff members. Citizens and agencies are encouraged to report fraud, waste or abuse in State and Local government. NOTICE: This agency is a recipient of taxpayer funding. If you observe an agency director or employee engaging in any activity which you consider to be illegal, improper or wasteful, please call the state Comptroller’s toll-free Hotline: 1-800-232-5454

28. Claiborne County Dispute Resolution Process If a parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth wishes to appeal a school district's decision regarding school placement:   The parent/unaccompanied youth must submit a request for dispute resolution form to the district Liaison or the school where enrollment is sought within five (5) business days of receiving the district's notification that they plan to enroll the student in a school other than the one requested by the parent, guardian, or youth. Within five (5) business days of their receipt of the complaint, the Homeless Liaison must make a decision on the complaint and inform the parent or unaccompanied youth of their decision in writing. If the parent or youth disagrees with the decision made at Level I and wishes to move the dispute resolution process forward to Level II, the parent or unaccompanied youth shall notify the district's Homeless Liaison of their intent to proceed to Level II within ten (10) business days of their receipt of notification of the Level I decision. If the parent or unaccompanied youth wishes to proceed to Level II, the district's Homeless Liaison will provide an appeals package that includes:

29. Claiborne County Dispute Resolution Process (Continued) • A copy of the parent or youth’s complaint which was filed at the district Homeless Liaison at Level I • The decision rendered at Level I by the Homeless Liaison • Any additional information from the parent, guardian, unaccompanied youth, or Liaison • If the dispute remains unresolved after a Level I appeal, the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth may appeal the decision to the local school district's Director of Schools or the Director’s designee. The appeals package from the Level I dispute will be used to make a decision at Level II. • The Director of Schools or the Director’s designee (not the Homeless Liaison), will arrange for a personal conference with the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth. This will occur within five (5) business days of the parent, guardian , or youth's notification to the district of their intent to proceed to the Level II dispute resolution process. This meeting, once arranged, should happen as quickly as possible. • The Director of Schools or the Director’s designee will provide a decision, in writing, to the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth with supporting evidence and reasons within five (5) business days of the meeting.

30. Claiborne County Dispute Resolution Process (Continued) • If the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth disagrees with the decision at Level II and wishes to move the dispute process to Level Ill, the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth must notify the district's Homeless Liaison of their intent to proceed to Level Ill within five (5) days of receipt of notification of the Level II decision. • The Director of Schools must forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the State Homeless Education Coordinator or designee, for review within five (5) business days of receiving notification that the parent, guardian, or youth would like to proceed to Level Ill. • The entire dispute package including all documentation and related paperwork is to be submitted to the State Homeless Education Coordinator in one complete package via hard copy mail delivery. Documents submitted separately from the dispute package may not be reviewed. It is the responsibility of the district to ensure the dispute packages are complete and ready for review. The State Homeless Education Coordinator, along with appropriate personnel, will make a decision within seven (7) business days of receipt of the complaint. The decision will be forwarded to the school district's Homeless Liaison for distribution to the parent and the local Director of Schools.

31. Claiborne County Dispute Resolution Process (Continued) • If the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth disagrees with the decision at Level III and wishes to move the dispute process to Level IV, the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth must notify the district’s Homeless Liaison of their intent to proceed to Level IV within five (5) days of receipt of the notification of the Level III decision. If the dispute remains unresolved: 1. The Executive Director of Consolidated Planning and Monitoring (CPM) shall then forward a request to the State Homeless Education Coordinator to obtain all written documentation and related paperwork for review. 2. Upon request of the Executive Director of CPM, the State Homeless Education Coordinator shall forward all written documentation and related paperwork to the Executive Director of CPM for review within three (3) business days of the request for documentation regarding the dispute. 3. The Executive Director of CPM, along with the appropriate other department personnel will make a final decision within seven (7) business days of receipt of all documentation and related paperwork. • 4. The final decision will be forwarded to the local district’s Director of Schools • and Homeless Liaison for distribution to the parent and/or unaccompanied youth.

32. Receipt of Dispute Resolution Process Information Date: I, __________________________________________________________, am the parent, guardian, or youth attempting to enroll my child/ren or myself in the following school(s) : Child's Name: School ____________________________ _______________________________________________________ I have received the explanation of my child's placement. This explanation included: 1. Contact information for the district’s Homeless Liaison and the TN State Homeless Education Coordinator 2. A copy of the dispute resolution process 3. Paperwork to complete if I wish to dispute the district’s decision 4. Directions on how to complete the dispute resolution paperwork 5. A summary of the McKinney-Vento Act I understand that the school district will ensure that my child/ren will attend and fully participate in the school where enrollment is sought while the dispute process is carried out. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian/Youth Signature Date ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ School District Personnel Signature Date PARENT: Upon receipt of the dispute resolution packet, please sign this form and return it to the school where you are attempting to enroll or to the district 's Homeless Liaison, Georgia Rush, at the Claiborne County Board of Education. SCHOOL STAFF: Parent must complete this page only in your presence. Make a copy of this page and give it to the parent. Immediately submit the original to Georgia Rush at the Claiborne County Board of Education.

33. Parent Dispute Resolution Form Date: ___________ I have received the explanation of the district's placement decision concerning my children/myself,(name):______________________________________________. I disagree with the districts placement decision, and I am appealing that decision for the following reasons: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  I understand that the district will ensure that my child/I will have the opportunity to attend and participate at the school where enrollment is sought while the dispute is being carried out. __________________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian/Youth Signature Date __________________________________________________________________________ School District Personnel Signature Date