Charles County Public Schools Department of Student Services

1. Charles County Public SchoolsDepartment of Student Services

2. Interagency Liaison HSP(LMB) Grant Acquisition/ Administration Student Services Pupil Personnel Workers School Psychologists School Counselors Juvenile Resource Officers School Nurses Student Data Accounting School Safety and Security Safe and Drug-Free Schools Student Transfers and Special Exceptions Office PBIS Homeless Hearing Officers Court Liaison

3. Homeless The McKinney-Vento Act

4. The McKinney-Vento Act is the Federal law that governs the rights of homeless students. • Loss of home • Staying in a motel; campground because they have no place else to go • Living in a shelter • Living in places not ordinarily used for sleeping, including cars, parks, public places • Awaiting foster care placement • Abandoned in a hospital

5. Rights of homeless children under the McKinney-Vento Act: • The right to immediate enrollment in the school without barriers • The right to remain in the “school of origin” • The right to transportation back to the school of origin • The right to free meals • The right to have supplies, materials, and other items that he/she may need to be successful in school

6. Funding of Homeless Program in CCPS • Federal Grant - $23,000 Materials Supplies Portion of the transportation Tutoring at the shelter Miscellaneous items • The bulk of the transportation cost is assumed by the county since the buses that are currently running are re-routed to accommodate the homeless students.

7. Statistics for Charles County Public Schools Homeless Population 2005-2006 325 students 2006 -2007 341 students 2007-2008 221 students (as of 12-01-07) We expect to exceed the 341 students that we had last year since December and January are our busiest months in identifying homeless students.

8. Attendance • Students who have chronic attendance problems are identified by school personnel (PPW, Vice Principal, Principal) • If the school-level procedures in place yield no positive results in improving the student’s attendance, they can access the attendance review process at the central office. This procedure is used in lieu of a suspension and is designed to serve as a conference process at a higher level with one of the hearing officers to stress the importance of attendance.

9. The goal is to identify the causes of the absenteeism and suggest solutions to the problem. Our aim is to return the student to school with a plan for the student and the parent for improving attendance for the remainder of the school year.

10. Reviews 2005 – 2006 79 2006 – 2007 158 2007-2008 – so far 36 (54 called in – 18 no shows)

11. Follow-Up • School monitors attendance • Hearing Officer maintains contact (phone calls) • Hearing Officer meets with students at school

12. Court Liaison

13. Juvenile Court - 4th year Adolescent Drug Court – Since April 2006 member of original team Children in Need of Assistance Court (CINA) Since April 2006

14. Information is presented to: • School-Based Administration • Probation Officers • Central Office Personnel • Judges and the Master of the Juvenile Court • Special Education • School Psychologists • Assistant State’s Attorney – Juvenile • Pupil Personnel Workers • Public Defenders • Guidance Counselors • Parents • Alternative Programs Staff

15. Juvenile Court - Tuesday and Friday approximately 4 hours each session – follow the case from initial appearance until disposition. Every other Thursday – 2 hours each sessioninvolved from acceptance until graduation.

16. Resources provided includes: Contact names Education progress – grades, attendance Programs and available services Leaving and returning to Charles County Public Schools