The McKinney-Vento Act Back to School Review

1. The McKinney-Vento ActBack to School Review 2019 Provided as a template, free to download, edit and use, with acknowledgement to SchoolHouse Connection.

2. Background and definition of homelessness School stability and transportation Immediate enrollment Support for academic success Resources Today’s Agenda

3. 1.35 million Students experiencing homelessness, preK-12, identified by public schools in 2016-2017. 7% increase over 4 years. Source: National Center for Homeless Education (2019). National Overview.

4. Over 4 million Unaccompanied homeless youth ages 14-24. • Prevalence is statistically the same in rural and urban areas. Source: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago (2017). Voices of Youth Count.

5. 1.3 million Babies, toddlers, and youngchildrenunder age 6 experienced homelessness in 2016-2017. • Infancy is the period of life when a person is most at risk of living in a homeless shelter. Source: U.S. Department of Education (2019). Early Childhood Homelessness State Profiles 2019.

6. Pop Quiz: True or False? • Most children and youth experiencing homelessness live in shelters and transitional living programs. • Lack of a high school degree is the greatest risk factor for young adult homelessness. • McKinney-Vento students can stay in the same school, even if they move out of district. • McKinney-Vento students should sit out of school while their school and health records are obtained. • McKinney-Vento applies to public preschools.

7. Definition: Who is eligible? Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. • Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason. [75.8% of identified MV students in 2016–17] • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.[Motels: 6.6% of identified MV students in 2016–17]

8. Definition: Who is eligible? Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. 11434a(2) • Living in emergency or transitional shelters.[13.9% of identified MV students in 2016–17] • Living in a public or private place not designed for or regularly used as accommodations. • Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings. • What is substandard? Check utilities; infestations; mold; dangers. “Determining Eligibility” brief:https://nche.ed.gov/downloads/briefs/det_elig.pdf

10. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Definition: A child or youth who meets the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness and is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

11. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Youth run away due to abuse or neglect. • 40-60% of unaccompanied youth were abused physically at home. • 17-35% of unaccompanied youth were abused sexually at home. • Research links parental substance abuse and youth running away from home.

12. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Parents force youth out of the home due to conflicts. • Pregnancy • Sexual orientation and gender identity The circumstances of homelessness force families apart. • Families become separated due to poverty, lack of space in living situations, or shelter policies. • 47% of youth experience homelessness both with families and on their own. • Unaccompanied youth resources:https://www.nn4youth.org/

13. Identification 67% of students say they were uncomfortable telling people at school about their homelessness and asking for help.

14. Identification Activity • What are red flagsforpotentialhomelessness? • Whatshouldyou do ifyouthink a studentmight be experiencinghomelessness? • Identification tip: • Don’t say ”homeless.” • Use descriptive language. • Are you staying somewhere temporarily? • Did you have to leave your home? • Where would you go if you couldn’t stay here?

15. Educational Impacts • 42% of students who experienced homelessness say they dropped out of school at least once; 60% say it was hard to stay in school while they were homeless. • Homelessness is associated with an 87% likelihood of dropping out of school, chronic absenteeism, and disproportionate school discipline. • Over time, the achievement gaps between homeless and low-income elementary students tend to persist and may even worsen.

16. Overcoming Homelessness Through Education • Lack of a high school diploma or GED is the top risk factor for young adult homelessness: 346% more likely. • By 2020, 65% of all jobs will require education beyond high school. • The McKinney-Vento Act is an important strategy to overcome homelessness.

17. School of Origin: Definition The school attended when permanently housed or the school in which last enrolled, including a preschool. Includes the designated receiving school at the next grade level for all feeder schools, when the student completes the final grade level served by the school of origin. Help with school of origin and preschool:www.schoolhouseconnection.org/learn/early-childhood/

18. Staying in the School of Origin Each LEA shall, according to the child’s or youth’s best interest: • Keep the student in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness, and until the end of the academic year in which the student becomes permanently housed; or • Enroll the student in any public school that housed students living in the attendance area where the student is living are eligible to attend. 11432(g)(3)(A)

19. Determining Best Interest In determining best interest, the LEA shall: • Presume that keeping the student in the school of origin is in the student’s best interest. • Unless contrary to the request of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth. • Consider student-centered factors, including the impact of mobility on achievement, education, health, & safety. • For preschool children, consider attachment to teachers; availability and quality of services in the new area; and travel time. • Give priority to the request of the parent/guardian. • Give priority to the request of an unaccompanied youth.

20. Transportation to the School of Origin • LEAs must provide transportation to and from the school of origin (including preschools), including until the end of the year when the student obtains permanent housing, at a parent’s or guardian’s request (or at the liaison’s request for unaccompanied youth). • Even if transportation is not typically provided. • If staying in the same LEA, that LEA must provide or arrange transportation to the school of origin. • If crossing LEA lines, both LEAs must determine how to divide the responsibility and share the cost, or they must share the cost equally.

21. Immediate Enrollment • 62% of McKinney-Vento students said that proof of residency requirements posed a major challenge for them when enrolling in a new school. • 56% said lack of cooperation between their new and old schools (records transfer) posed a major challenge. • 60% found changing schools difficult to navigate.

22. Immediate Enrollment McKinney-Vento students are entitled to immediate enrollment in any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, even if: • Students do not have required documents, such as school records, records of immunization and other required health records, proof of residency, guardianship, or other documents; or • Students have missed application or enrollment deadlines during any period of homelessness.

23. Immediate Enrollment • “Enrollment” includes attending classes and participating fully in school activities. • The liaison must assist in obtaining immunization and other health records or screenings, and immunizations if needed; the student must be enrolled in the interim. • Enrolling schools must obtain school records from the previous school; the student must be enrolled while records are obtained. • Immediate enrollment applies even without parent or guardian. • Typically, unaccompanied youth enroll themselves.

24. Support for Success

25. Support for Success: Earning Credits • SEAs and LEAs must implement procedures to identify and remove barriers to McKinney-Vento students receiving appropriate credit for full or partial coursework completed at a prior school. Quick Guide for Counseling Staff:https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/quick-guide-for-counselors-working-with-students-experiencing-homelessness/

26. Support for Success: Full Participation • Remove barriers to academic and extracurricular activities, including magnet school, summer school, career and technical education, advanced placement, online learning, and charter school programs. • LEAs should anticipate and accommodate the needs of McKinney-Vento students to enter these programs and consider giving them priority on waitlists. • SEAs and LEAs should develop policies to expedite full participation in extracurricular activities and work with athletic associations to adjust policies to facilitate participation.

27. Support for Success: Trauma-informed Care • Homelessness is inherently traumatic and frequently violent. • SEAs and LEAs should train staff on the traumatic effects of homelessness and specific strategies to provide trauma-informed care. • SEAs and LEAs should ensure school personnel consider issues related to homelessness prior to taking disciplinary action. ¡ • Positive School Discipline PracticesforStudentsExperiencingHomelessness: • https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/positive-school-discipline-practices-for-students-experiencing-homelessness/

28. Support for Success: Counseling & Intervention • All McKinney-Vento youth must be able to receive counseling from counselors to prepare and improve their readiness for college (including college selection, application, financial aid, and on-campus supports). • Coordinate with Early Warning Systems for dropout prevention. They can help identify students experiencing homelessness.

29. Let’s give this a try. (Elementary school level) Christine is a 4th grader with a 4 year old brother. She and her mother just came in to enroll. When asked for proof of residence, Christine’s mother said she was staying with a friend. She just moved from the next town over. Christine loves to sing, but is withdrawn and quiet now in the front office.

30. Let’s give this a try. (High school level) Josh is starting his 4th year of high school, although his credits put him as an early junior. He has attended 3 different high schools and just arrived to enroll in your school from a distant state. Josh is staying with an uncle and has no contact with his parents. At his last high school, Josh was a starter for the football team, and he would like to play at your school.

31. Overcoming Homelessness: Removing Barriers • SEAs and LEAs must develop, review, and revise policiesto remove barriers to the identification, enrollment and retention of McKinney-Vento students, including barriers due to outstanding fees or fines, or absences. • This is a “broad, on-going requirement… with regular input from homeless parents, youth, and advocates so that new barriers… do not prevent” students from full, immediate enrollment and services.

32. Financial Aid for College Liaisons must ensure unaccompanied youth are informed they qualify as independent students for the FAFSA (apply without parental information) and must assist the youth in obtaining verification of that status. • They need verification from a liaison, shelter provider, or financial aid administrator. Sample letter for the FAFSA, Pathways to Partnership, and more::www.schoolhouseconnection.org/learn/higher-education/

33. Pop Quiz: True or False? • Most children and youth experiencing homelessness live in shelters and transitional living programs. • Lack of a high school degree is the greatest risk factor for young adult homelessness. • McKinney-Vento students can stay in the same school, even if they move out of district. • McKinney-Vento students should sit out of school while their school and health records are obtained. • McKinney-Vento applies to public preschools.

34. Voices of Youth • Empower • Be discreet • Follow through • Never assume • Listen • Understand • Defend • Be there www.vimeo.com/pjulianelle

35. Questions about students who may be experiencing homelessness or how to implement the law in your school? INSERT Liaison contact information

36. Resources • SchoolHouse Connection: http://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/ • Hidden in Plain Sight: http://www.americaspromise.org/report/hidden-plain-sight • National Center on Homeless Education: • https://nche.ed.gov • National Network for Youth: http://www.nn4youth.org • Education Leads Home: • https://www.educationleadshome.org/ • Title I • http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/titlei.pdf • http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/guidance/titlei-reform.pdf • http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/homelesscoord0815.pdf • Early Childhood • http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/expanding-early-care-and-education-for-homeless-children

37. Website: http://www.schoolhouseconnection.org • Newsletter: https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/sign-up/ • Federal and state policy advocacy • Q&A from our inbox • Webinars and implementation tools • Youth leadership and scholarships About SchoolHouse Connection SchoolHouse Connection works to overcome homelessness through education. We provide strategic advocacy and technical assistance in partnership with schools, early childhood programs, institutions of higher education, service providers, families, and youth.

38. The following slides on Title I are intended for federal programs staff and audiences working with the Title I, Part A program.

39. Strategies for Success: Title I • McKinney-Vento students attending any school in the LEA are automatically eligible for Title IA services. 20 USC 6315(c)(2)(E); Guidance M1 • All LEAs that receive Title IA funds must set-aside the funds necessary to provide McKinney-Vento students with services comparable to services provided in Title IA schools. 20 USC 6313(c)(3) • Amount must be based on the total LEA allocation prior to expenditures or transfers. • Amount must be sufficient to provide comparable services to homeless students, regardless of other services provided with reserved funds. Guidance M5

40. Calculating the Title I Set-Aside • LEA set-aside amounts may be determined based on a needs assessment that reviews homeless student enrollment averages and trends over 2-3 years and multiplies by the average per-pupil cost of providing Title I services. • The needs of McKinney-Vento students should be reviewed at least twice per school year. • Each year’s set-aside should include an evaluation of the effectiveness of past activities in accomplishing the goals of both Title I and McKinney-Vento for individual students and the overall programs. (Guidance M7)

41. Strategies for Success :Using Title I Funds Funds may be used: • For McKinney-Vento children and youth attending any school in the LEA. • For services not ordinarily provided to other students. • To fund the McKinney-Vento liaison. To provide transportation to the school of origin. • For educationally related support services, including preK.20 USC 6313(c)(3) Guidance M4, M5, M10, J7

42. Strategies for Success :Using Title I Funds • USED’s general principles for using Title IA funds:(Guidance M4) • Services must be reasonable and necessary to enable homeless students to take advantage of educational opportunities. • Funds must be used as a last resort when services are not reasonably available from another public or private source.