The Educational Rights of D isplaced Students in Temporary Housing

1. The Educational Rights of Displaced Students in Temporary Housing Public Schools of Petoskey With thanks to NYS-TEACH, a Project of Advocates for Children funded by a grant from the New York State Education Dept.

2. Segments in PowerPoint

3. Research on Educational Outcomes • Over 75% of displaced children readbelow grade level. • 36% of displacedchildren repeat a grade (twice the rate of other children). • Students with two or more school changes are half as likely to be proficient in reading as their peers. Public Schools of Petoskey

4. Barriers for Those in Temporarily Housing • Enrollment requirements- Residency, school records, immunizations, legal guardianship, etc. • High mobility- Lack ofeducational continuity • Lack of access to programs • Lack of transportation • Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc. • Poor health, fatigue, hunger, etc. • Prejudice and misunderstanding McKinney-Vento Attempts to Eliminate Them! Public Schools of Petoskey

5. McKinney-VentoAssistance Act Protecting the Educational Rights of Youth Federal law:Enacted in 1987 & reauthorized in 2001 (NCLB) Main Themes: • School Access • School Stability • Academic Success Public Schools of Petoskey

6. Who is Covered Under the McKinney-Vento Act? All students who lack a fixed, regular, & adequate night-time residence • FIXED: A fixed residence is one that is stationary, permanent, and not subject to consistent changes. • REGULAR: A regular residence is one which is used on a predictable or routine basis. • ADEQUATE: An adequate residence is one that is sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments. Public Schools of Petoskey

7. Examples of Temporary Housing • Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, etc. • Living in motels, hotels, parks, camp grounds, etc. • Living in emergency or transitional shelters • Abandonedin hospitals • Awaiting foster care placement & early/temporary foster care • Living a in public or private place not designed for sleeping • Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus/train stations, etc. • Migratory living in circumstances described above (e.g., couch surfing) Public Schools of Petoskey

8. Steps for Determining Eligibility ANALYZE THE FACTS Does the student’s living arrangement seem to fit into one of the previous examples? What are the most immediate needs of the student? Still have questions/concerns? Please call Petoskey’s Liaison Officer at 348-2352. Public Schools of Petoskey

9. What Rights Does McKinney-Vento Provide? Public Schools of Petoskey 2010-2011

10. Immediate Enrollment Students experiencing housing barriers are entitled to immediate enrollment, even without: • Previous school records, • Medical records (including immunization records), • Proof of residency, • A parent or guardianship papers, or • Birth certificate or other documents normally required. IMMEDIATE ENROLLMENT THE NORM Public Schools of Petoskey

11. School Selection “School Selection” means attending a school district/building that is least disruptive to learning: • School/district attended when last permanently housed • School/district where last attended • School/district in the attendance zone where temporarily residing • School that students (living in the same attendance zone) may attend Parent, unaccompanied youth, & liaison officer are encouraged to keep student in school of origin. Best interest, appropriate travel time, and safety are considered to be primary factors. Public Schools of Petoskey

12. How Long Can Student Stay in the Selected School? BUSES- PRIMARY Gas Cards Transport Agreements Entire time student is experiencing housing barriers (as defined earlier) or Through the remainder of the school year (even if moves into permanent housing) and Transportation provided when- • Within district/building of origin • District/building most recently attended • Within reasonable distance • Safe (as for all students) Public Schools of Petoskey

13. Free & Reduced School Meals • Students identified through McKinney-Vento are entitled to FREEmeals. • A completed application is not required to receive free meals, but is requested • Principals, secretaries, or the liaison submit names of student(s) and siblings in temporary housing to district’s Food Service Director for State of Michigan reimbursement. Public Schools of Petoskey

14. Unaccompanied Youth Defined As: • Not in physical custody of parent • Meets definition of McKinney-V • Does not need adult to enroll New federal guidelines are available. Availability of permanent housing does not affect eligibility under McKinney-Vento. Public Schools of Petoskey

15. Special Services Educational services & programs must be equitably available to all students : • Special Education • RtI & Intervention Services • Core & Elective Courses • Gifted & Talented • Extra Curricular • Pre-School • Etc. School will assign a “surrogate parent” as needed (e.g., principal, counselor, liaison officer, or staff member) in cases where student is: • a ward of the State/Court or • an unaccompanied youth. Public Schools of Petoskey

16. In Petoskey Public Schools, We… CONTAC T THE DISTRICT LIAISON OFFICERAT 1-231-348-2352. District information & other resources are available at: http://www.petoskeyschools.org/tlc/admin/homeless/index.htm