1.  Operates U.S. Department of Education’s homeless education technical assistance and information center and has:  Comprehensive website: www.serve.org/nchewww.serve.org/nche  Toll-free helpline: Call 800-308-2145 or e-mail homeless@serve.org homeless@serve.org  Listserv: Subscription instructions at www.serve.org/nche/listserv.php www.serve.org/nche/listserv.php  Free resources: www.serve.org/nche/products.php www.serve.org/nche/products.php G ET TO K NOW NCHE

2. U NACCOMPANIED H OMELESS Y OUTH National Center for Homeless Education Jan Moore jmoore@serve.org ESEA Directors Institute August 27, 2015

3. S ESSION O UTLINE  Session topics  Who are unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) according to the McKinney-Vento Act?  What challenges do they face?  What are their educational rights?  How can school districts identify & serve them?

4. D EMOGRAPHICS  In 2013-14, U.S. schools identified 71,702 UHY, a 14% increase since 2012-13  TN identified 557 UHY, a 12% increase since 2012-13  Multiple studies estimate that 1+ million 12-17 year olds will become UHY each year  May be disproportionate representation of minorities, LGBT, pregnant & parenting youth  Depends on location and research sampling methods

5. M C K INNEY -V ENTO (MV) DEFINITION OF H OMELESS  Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:  Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (“doubling up”)  Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to the lack of adequate alternative accommodations  Living in emergency or transitional shelters

6.  Awaiting foster care placement  Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live  Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or a similar setting  Migratory children living in the above circumstances  Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances MV D EFINITION OF H OMELESS

7. U NACCOMPANIED H OMELESS Y OUTH (UHY)  To be considered an UHY: 1.Student’s living arrangement must meet the definition of homeless, AND 2.Student must be considered unaccompanied, defined as “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian” Homeless Not in Physical Custody UHY

8. A GE L IMITS  No lower age limit for UHY  Upper age limit is your district’s upper age limit for public education

9.  Tired; may fall asleep in class  Stops doing homework or loses homework, books, etc.  Behavior change: anger outbursts or withdrawal  Accumulated absences and tardies  Personal hygiene issues  Wears same clothes several days  Carries more belongings or becomes very protective of belongings  Stops socializing or participating in extra- curricular activities S IGNS OF UHY

10. P ATHS TO B EING O N T HEIR O WN  May become homeless with their families, but end up on their own due to  Lack of space in temporary accommodations  Shelter policies that exclude adolescent boys  Parental issues  Incarceration  Substance abuse  Illness  Death  Unable or unwilling to support youth

11. P ATHS TO B EING O N T HEIR O WN  Family conflict due to blended family issues, abuse, and/or neglect  Pregnancy, sexual activity, sexual orientation, school problems, alcohol/drug use  Foster care issues  Running away from a foster care placement  Aging out of foster care

12. “B UT, THE STUDENT CHOSE TO LEAVE …”  Sometimes there is “more than meets the eye” for youth’s home life situations  Youth & parents are often reluctant to divulge details about family/personal issues  Many youth will not reveal information that they think will get their parents into trouble

13.  Youth can be eligible regardless of whether they were abandoned, kicked out, or chose to leave  Consider the following questions:  Is the current nighttime living situation fixed, regular, and adequate?  Was this a planned arrangement or was it precipitated by a crisis?  How long can the youth stay?  Does he/she have a legal right to be there? D ETERMINING E LIGIBILITY OF UHY

14. E LIGIBILITY S CENARIO Antonio's father got a job in a school district three hours away. Antonio is staying with a friend in the same school district but a different attendance zone from his previous home.  How will you determine if Antonio is homeless?  Is he unaccompanied?  Other questions?

15. B ARRIERS TO E DUCATION  Difficulty meeting basic needs  Results in fatigue, poor health, & hunger  Lack of stable housing  Affects access to bathing & laundry facilities  Lack of a parent or guardian  No adult guidance; no one to sign permissions, etc.  Lack of school records and other paperwork  Emotional crises / Mental health issues

16. B ARRIERS TO E DUCATION  Lack of transportation  Must balance school and work  Lack of school supplies & clothing  School policies  Can hinder credit accrual & attendance  Concerns about being reported to authorities  May affect attendance  Warn youth prior to making report

17. MV R IGHTS FOR A LL H OMELESS S TUDENTS  Immediate enrollment, even if lacking paperwork normally required  Can attend either the local attendance area school or the school of origin, according to the student’s best interest  Transportation to/from the school of origin  Comparable services, including transportation  Cannot be disciplined for issues related to their homelessness, e.g. absences & tardies

18. R IGHTS FOR A LL H OMELESS S TUDENTS  Categorically eligible for free school meals and Title I services  Must be provided access to all educational services for which they are eligible (IDEA, ELL, migrant education, vocational/technical education, etc.)

19. S PECIFIC M-V P ROVISIONS FOR UHY  Enrollment without proof of guardianship  Assistance from the liaison to  Select a school of attendance and enroll  Receive transportation to the school of origin  Resolve disputes over enrollment or school selection  Youth can initiate the dispute resolution process for himself/herself

20. I DENTIFICATION S TRATEGIES  Provide awareness training about UHY for all school staff  Enlist students to help spread the word  Include homeless situations in curriculum  Post outreach materials where UHY hang out such as laundromats, parks, campgrounds, skate parks, clubs, etc. Where else might you post educational rights?

21. I DENTIFICATION S UPPORT  NCHE youth outreach materials:  Youth educational rights poster http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/er_ poster.php  Surviving on Your Own youth booklet http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/ youth_booklet.php http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/ youth_booklet.php  Higher education poster http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/he_ poster.php http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/he_ poster.php

22. E NROLLMENT S TRATEGIES  Three common methods for enrolling UHY  Student enrolls himself/herself  Caregiver enrolls the student  Sample caregiver enrollment forms at http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/toolkit2/ app5b.docx) http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/toolkit2/ app5b.docx  Local liaison enrolls the student

23. E NROLLMENT R EMINDERS  Cannot require a caregiver to obtain legal guardianship prior to enrollment  Cannot discontinue enrollment due to student’s inability to  Identify a caregiver, guardian, or parent  Produce guardianship or other paperwork

24.  Develop forms to replace proof of guardianship  Sample www.serve.org/nche/pr/liaison_toolkit.phpwww.serve.org/nche/pr/liaison_toolkit.php  Local liaisons must assist UHY with school selection, school of origin transportation, & dispute resolution  Become familiar with relevant state and local policies: minor medical consent, reporting, etc. S TRATEGIES TO S ERVE UHY

25. S HARE Y OUR S TRATEGIES What policies or protocols has your district implemented related to identifying, enrolling, and serving unaccompanied homeless students? Examples:  Who can enroll an UHY?  Who can phone in an excused absence?  Who can consent to change class schedule or take classes off campus?  Who can sign permission forms for field trips, college preview days, etc.? What policies do you need to create?

26. P ARTICIPATION IN E XTRA - CURRICULAR A CTIVITIES  Enrollment includes “attending classes & participating fully in school activities”  Covers all activities offered through schools  Ensuring Full Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities for Students Experiencing Homelessness http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/ extra_curr.pdf http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/ extra_curr.pdf  Can waive program fees & deadlines  Sample policy at www.serve.org/nche/forum/extra_curr.php www.serve.org/nche/forum/extra_curr.php

27. P ARTICIPATION IN E XTRA - CURRICULAR A CTIVITIES  Signing & decision-making for UHY participation  Students can sign for themselves  Caregiver can sign for youth  Local liaison can sign for youth

28.  Arrange for before- and after-school support  Provide place to study, store belongings, shower, & do laundry  Suggest a trained mentor  Offer diversified learning opportunities such as flexible school hours, credit-for-work programs, independent study, & online learning E DUCATIONAL S UPPORT

29.  Develop individual student learning plans with specific goals, steps, & services needed  Assist with credit accrual and recovery  Partial credit, credit based on competency, etc.  See NCHE’sMaximizing Credit Accrual and Recovery for Homeless Students at http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/ credit.pdf http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/ credit.pdf What good strategies does your district use? E DUCATIONAL S UPPORT ( CONT.)

30.  Jason, a 17 year old UHY, ran away from home. His mom says he can come home, but he refuses. His grades have dropped, and he's having some attendance issues. He says he is overwhelmed and wants to drop a class.  How would you determine what support the district should provide?  Who else would you involve? E DUCATIONAL S UPPORT S CENARIO

31.  Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Homeless Students http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/ youth.pdf http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/ youth.pdf  Research Summary: Teaching and Classroom Strategies for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students http://center.serve.org/ nche/pr/res- teach-class.phphttp://center.serve.org/ nche/pr/res- teach-class.php A DDITIONAL NCHE R ESOURCES

32. F INAL Q UESTIONS ?