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Ferndale School District McKinney-Vento Staff Training April 26, 2011 Presenters: Renee McCluskey, FSD Special Services Administrative Assistant 1 Roxana Parise, BSD Homeless Coordinator Patty Hoff, BSD Homeless Coordinator Michael Berres, FSD Homeless Liaison
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38% of the national homeless population have less than a high school degree by age 18 [Burt, Helping America’s Homeless, Emergency Shelter or Affordable press? Pg. 87] Have a higher absentee rate that correlates with lower academic achievement [Family Housing Fund (1998) Kids Mobility Project Minneapolis, MN] Are half as likely to graduate from high school and twice as likely to repeat a grade [Rumberger, R.W., Larson, K.A., Ream, R.K., Palardy, G.J. (1999) The education consequences of mobility for California students and schools] Take 4-6 months to recover academically from each school transfer [Homes for the Homeless (1999) Homeless in America: A Children’s Story, part one]
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Lack of affordable housing Foreclosures Poverty Economic recession Unemployment Health problems Lack of health insurance Addiction disorders Mental health Domestic violence Natural and other disasters Abuse/neglect (unaccompanied youth)
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Lack of enrollment records Lack of school stability and school continuity Lack of awareness; under-identification Lack of transportation Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc. Poor health, fatigue, hunger Prejudice and misunderstanding
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MotelsCars Shelters Unaccompanied Doubled Up Transitional Temporary Foster Placement Not Designed For Humans to Live
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The FSD provides homeless awareness and identification through the following activities: Annual letters to all community agencies, programs and health care providers Post McKinney-Vento posters (in 3 languages) where children/youth and families may be likely to see them, such as: SheltersSoup kitchens Bus stationsLaundry mats LibrariesMotels/hotels McKinney-Vento posters are placed at each FSD schools
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What is it? Federal Law: Reauthorized in 2002 as part of No Child Left Behind Main Themes: School stability School access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making
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According to the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless students have two options for school enrollment: School of Origin – school the student last attended when permanently housed OR the school where the student was last enrolled School of Residency – the school attended by other students living in the same attendance area as the homeless child’s current residence
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Students can stay in their school of origin for the duration of the academic year in which they were designated as homeless Immediate enrollment, even if the student does not have required documents (health records, etc.) * “Enrollment” might be different than actual “participation or attendance” if there are severe health and/or behavior issues that must be addressed before the student attends class.
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If the student does not have immunizations or immunization records, the student must be enrolled and attending school while the homeless liaison assists in obtaining records Students must be allowed to attend school while the enrolling school works to obtain school records from the previous school
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Jenny is a 3 rd grade student attending Custer Elementary. In November, Jenny and her mom move to a WomenCare Shelter that is located within the Bellingham School District attendance area. Does Jenny have the right to continue to attend Custer Elementary while living at the shelter? Yes Custer Elementary is her School of Origin and she has the right to remain at Custer for the remainder of the academic year
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School districts must provide transportation to and from the School of Origin, at the parent’s, guardian’s or student’s request If crossing district lines, both districts must determine how to divide the responsibility and share the cost, or they must share the cost equally
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Districts must provide homeless students with transportation services comparable to those provided to other students Districts must eliminate barriers to school enrollment and retention
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While Jenny is living at the WomenCare Shelter, her mother’s car breaks down. Does Jenny have the right to request the Ferndale School District provide transportation to and from school? Yes Who actually provides the transportation? Ferndale SD and Bellingham SD are required to share the responsibility and cost
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Question: Is there a limit to the number of days that Jenny can receive transportation? No In March, Jenny’s family receive a Section 8 voucher and move into permanent housing but it’s in the Lynden SD attendance area. Can Jenny continue to receive transportation to and from Custer Elementary, even though her family is in permanent housing?
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“While the law states that once housed, students have a right to remain in their school of origin for the remainder of that academic year, the law is silent regarding the provision of transportation for students once they are housed. Having said that, I will follow up with the fact that the intention of the law is that the transportation will be provided for the remainder of the academic year, as the student would not be able (in practice) to continue in their school of origin unless the transportation was provided. I believe there may even be legal precedent in another state which indicates that this is not only the intent of the law, but the letter of the law. Short of a lawsuit, we (OSPI) cannot compel districts to provide the service, but with reauthorization this language in the law will likely become explicit and the transportation will be required. So, we tell districts to do everything they can to make it happen. It is best for kids.” Melinda Dyer – OSPI, Education for Homeless Children and Youth
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Homeless students are automatically eligible for free school meals Undocumented children and youth have the same right to attend public school as U.S. citizens and are covered by the McKinney-Vento Act to the same extent as other children and youth
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Little Johnny is registered at Vista MS by his mother. At the time of registration, mom mentions that Johnny has a current IEP and was receiving SpEd services at his previous school. How does the school know what services to provide if there are no enrollment records?
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Vista must immediately enroll Johnny in school The school Administrative Assistant or the Special Services Administrative Assistant will contact the previous school for records IDEA specifically requires enrolling schools to promptly obtain student records from their previous school IDEA also requires the previous school to promptly respond to such records requests
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What if you suspect that Johnny’s mother isn’t really his mother? If FSD staff suspect that the mother is not actually the “parent/guardian”, the FSD will actively seek to verify information and take whatever corrective action is necessary Remember The safest place for this student is at school
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What if Johnny’s family is fleeing a domestic violence situation and the family is enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program, how does the SpEd teacher at Vista obtain Johnny’s school records? IF a family is enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program, ALL communication and records requests must be made confidentially through the ACP in Olympia by the Special Services Administrative Assistant
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Considerations in school selection: Continuity of instruction Age and grade placement of student Academic strength Social and emotional state Distance of the commute and its impact on the student’s education and/or special needs Personal safety of the student Student’s need for special instruction Length of anticipated stay in a temporary shelter or other temporary location
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Best Interest Decision Making All reasonable factors, are considered when making the school assignment, including: Best interest of the child School of Origin Length of time students are on a bus Parent/guardian request School of Choice
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You know or suspect a student or family is homeless, now what? You fill out a Families In Transition Intake form Fax the form to the Special Services Administrative Assistant (Renee McCluskey) To fax # 383-9230
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Thank you very much for the work that you do to support our Homeless/Foster Care students
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