Serving Displaced and Homeless Students Under Title IA Thursday, September 26, 2013

Provide districts with information related to support for displaced and homeless students related to the recent floods Webinar Purpose 2

3 Are students who are displaced by a disaster covered by the McKinney-Vento act? Yes. Students who lack a fixed, regular and adequate primary nighttime residence due to a disaster (flood, fire, hurricane, tornado, etc.) are considered homeless under the McKinney- Vento Act. They are entitled to the same legal protections and services as other students experiencing homelessness.

4 Are children and youth in homeless situation eligible for Title I, Part A services? Yes. All children and youth in homeless situations are automatically eligible for Title IA services, whether or not they live in a Title I school attendance area or meet the academic standards required of other children for eligibility. What if they are succeeding in school? Yes. The poverty, unstable and often unhealthy living situations, and emotional trauma of homelessness place even outstanding students at risk of academic regression and failure.

5 If a student experiencing homelessness attends a school that does not receive Title I, Part A funds, how does the student receive services? Every school district that receives Title IA funds is required to set aside a portion of its allotment to provide comparable services to homeless students attending schools that do not receive Title IA services. For example, Title IA funds frequently serve elementary school students. The mandatory set-aside ensures that middle and high school students experiencing homelessness in those districts receive Title IA services.

6 What kind of services can Title I, Part A funds (including set-asides and other funds) pay for? Title IA funds, including those under the set-aside and other funds, can be used to serve students experiencing homelessness in both Title IA and non-Title IA schools. Services should support the students to succeed in school and to meet academic achievement standards. Funds can be used to provide services that are not ordinarily provided to other Title IA students, including educationally related support services to children in shelters and other locations where they are living.

7 Title IA funds, when leveraged with other funding sources, can be used to provide: Items of clothing, particularly if necessary to meet a school’s dress or uniform requirement; clothing and shoes necessary to participate in physical education classes Student fees that are necessary to participate in the general education program Personal school supplies such as backpacks and notebooks Birth certificates necessary to enroll in school Immunizations Food Medical and dental services Eyeglasses and hearing aids Counseling services to address anxiety related to homelessness that is impeding learning

8 Title IA funds can be used to provide (continued): Outreach services to students living in shelters, motels, and other temporary residences Extended learning time (before and after school, Saturday classes, summer school) to compensate for lack of quiet time for homework in shelters or other overcrowded living conditions Tutoring services, especially in shelters or other locations where homeless students live Parental involvement specifically oriented to reaching out to parents of homeless students Fees for AP and IB testing Fees for SAT/ACT testing

9 Can Title I, Part A funds be used to fund transportation? Sometimes. In general, LEAs may not use funds under Title I, Part A to transport students experiencing homelessness to or from their school of origin. Once a student becomes permanently housed, Title IA funds can pay to transport the student to and from their school of origin, so he or she may complete the academic year at that school. Title IA funds can also be used to help fund other kinds of transportation, such as transportation to extra-curricular activities and academic enrichment services.

10 Can Title I, Part A set-asides be used to fund McKinney- Vento liaisons? Yes. An individual paid, in whole or in part, with Title I, Part A funds may also serve as the McKinney-Vento liaison. Liaisons funded with Title IA dollars must perform at least some Title IA duties for the expense to be allowable.

 Affected districts are encouraged to examine their current use of Title IA funds to determine if revisions could be made to provide more funds to Homeless activities.  Districts wishing to make such revisions should send an to Trish Boland outlining the proposed changes that will result in additional funds to support displaced and/or homeless  CDE can approve any program changes prior to the official Post Award Revision date. During the Post Award Revision window, districts will submit a budget that reflects the activities approved earlier. Making Changes to Current IA Plan 11

12 Can students who are homeless receive free school meals without documenting income? What about students with an outstanding balance of unpaid school meal fees? Yes and yes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child Nutrition Division issued a policy in 2002 that makes any child identified as homeless by a McKinney-Vento liaison or shelter director automatically eligible for free school meals. They do not have to complete an application. When a liaison or a shelter director provides a child’s name to the local school food service office, free school meals should commence immediately.

Can Title 1 Part C funds be used for any flood victims? No.  Funds can only be used for migrant eligible children, students and families. Can Title 1 Part C funds be used for transportation? Yes.  Funds can be used for transportation for eligible migrant children, students and families. Title 1C Education of Migratory Children 13

Contact your regional migrant office: METRONorthern West CentralSoutheast Southwest How can we support eligible migrant students? 14

15 Additional Resources: SERV Grants Red Cross United Way

16 Contacts: Trish Boland, Ph.D. Director of ESEA Programs Colorado Department of Education 1560 Broadway, Suite 1450 Denver, CO | cell: Dana Scott State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Office of Dropout Prevention and Student Engagement Colorado Department of Education 201 East Colfax Avenue Denver, CO Tomás Mejía Principal Consultant Colorado Department of Education 1560 Broadway. Suite 1450 Denver, CO