Educating Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness October 20, 2011 CESA 10

Agenda Definition of Homeless Legal Responsibilities District Policies & Procedures Legislative Transportation Requirements How Title I Funds May Be Used Resources

Definition of Homeless Homeless children and youth are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence. The term includes children and youth who are: sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds living in emergency or transitional shelters abandoned in hospitals awaiting foster care placement

Definition of Homelessness Homeless children and youth are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence. The term includes children and youth who are: living in a primary night time residence not used as a regular sleeping accommodation living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings and/or migratory children living in any of the circumstances described above

Legal Responsibilities (Title X-Part C Homeless Education/McKinney-Vento Act) Districts MUST Serve Homeless Students: 1. Identify a homeless liaison who will: Publicize the name and contact information to district and community staff Display an educational rights poster in each building Ensure that the district has a procedure for enrolling, referring, and educating homeless students Complete PI-Q03-8 (Local Use Homeless Student Identification) for each identified student

Legal Responsibilities (Title X-Part C Homeless Education/McKinney-Vento Act) Districts MUST Serve Homeless Students: 2.Provide inservice training for all district staff involved with enrollment to: Develop an understanding of the definition of homeless Inform families of their rights Maintain confidentiality Know the procedure for referral

Legal Responsibilities (Title X-Part C Homeless Education/McKinney-Vento Act) Districts MUST Serve Homeless Students: 3.Inform homeless families and youth about their educational rights, including the right to: Continue to go to the school they were attending prior to becoming homeless, if that is feasible and their preference Receive transportation to go to the school they were attending prior to becoming homeless, if requested Enroll in and attend school without having a permanent address or available medical or educational records

Districts MUST Serve Homeless Students: 3. (Continued) Enroll preschool children in district preschool programs Receive the same access to programs and services as other children Receive free lunch, books, supplies, course fees, if needed

Legal Responsibilities (Title X-Part C Homeless Education/McKinney-Vento Act) Districts MUST Serve Homeless Students: 4.Provide homeless families and youth with a list of community agencies related to: Clothing Food Transportation Housing Support Employment Counseling Health Services

Legal Responsibilities (Title X-Part C Homeless Education/McKinney-Vento Act) Districts MUST Serve Homeless Students: 5. Review district polices and procedure to ensure the removal of academic barriers: DPI guidance on pupil records Complaint procedures Policies and procedures to ensure the removal of academic barriers including

District Policies & Procedures 1. WASB Policy Service recommends the review of existing policies and procedures to ensure that barriers for homeless are removed: Educational opportunities School admissions Procedures for placement of transfer students Assignment of students to schools Title I/SPED/GT programs Transportation Nutrition Student records Student fees, fines and charges

Legislative Transportation Requirements Preschool Children (Ages 3-5) Do not have a school of origin If the district has a preschool program and provides transportation for students, it must also provide transportation for homeless preschool children. Unless the district provides transportation between school districts, it is NOT required to provide transportation to a preschool child who, due to homelessness, ends up living in another district.

Legislative Transportation Requirements Must provide transportation to the school of origin, when requested. The school of origin is either the school the child attended when permanently housed or the school last enrolled in. If the school of origin is in another district, the two districts must agree “upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school of origin.” If the districts are unable to agree, the responsibility and costs for transportation shall be shared equally.

Legislative Transportation Requirements Approaches districts can take in providing transportation: Rerouting buses past motels, transitional living homes, etc. Contractual agreements negotiated between the district and a parent/guardian/youth who may agree to use their vehicle and be reimbursed for costs. (October, 2009 Transportation for Students Who Are Homeless-DPI Document)

Transportation & Title I School districts cannot use Title I funds to provide transportation for students who are homeless to their school of origin since Title I funds cannot pay for services that are a legal obligation under other legislation (McKinney-Vento). However, once students who were homeless become permanently housed, districts may use Title I funds to pay for their transportation for the remainder of the school year.

Title I Funds Reservations DPI recommends reserving a “sufficient amount of Title I funds to provide comparable services to homeless students…”

Title I Funds When all other resources are exhausted, Title I funds can help remove educational barriers such as: Minimum fees for physical, mental, dental, and other health services necessary for enrollment and attendance Emergency food High school graduation fees, college exams, application costs Interpretation and translations of materials for ELL students Participation in before and after-school programs

Title I Funds When all other resources are exhausted, Title I funds can help remove educational barriers such as: Participation in tutorial programs Printed materials needed for literacy development Supplementary instructional materials Assistance with medical needs (eye glasses, doctor/dental appointments, and other emergency needs)

Application for Federal Student Aide (FAFSA) Youth designated as being an “independent student” are exempt from providing parental information on their FAFSA: Youth who are unaccompanied and homeless or at risk of being homeless Youth who are/were in foster care, orphans, or wards of the court at age 13 or older Youth who fall into the category of “unusual circumstances”

Application for Federal Student Aide (FAFSA) Need a Homeless Verification Form Letter of Support from Homeless Liaison (Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) Policies, June 2010-DPI)

Resources: DPI Homepage/Forms/Frequently Asked Questions (faq)/Transportation/Resources & The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (naehcy)

Nancy Forseth