# Presentation: 457020

## Linking Resources for Homeless Children and Their Families

## Dramatic Rise in Family Homelessness

- During the 1990s, the number of children and youth experiencing homelessness in the U.S. increased nearly 3.5 fold.
- Nearly 1 million school-aged children experience homelessness during a given year (ED Report to Congress, 2002).
- Children comprise 39 percent of the 3.4 million people experiencing homelessness over the course of the year (NCFH, 2002).
- Over 40 percent of children living in homeless shelters are under the age of five.

## Shelter for Families Experiencing Homelessness

- Requests for emergency shelter increased by an average of 13 percent in 2001; requests for shelter by homeless families alone increased by 22 percent.
- Emergency shelters in urban areas are turning away 52 percent of all requests; rural areas often have no shelters at all.
- Of children and youths identified as homeless in 2002, 35percent lived in shelters; 34 percent,  doubled-up with family or friends; and 23 percent, in motels and other locations, such as on the streets, in cars, in abandoned buildings, or in campgrounds.

## Educational Challenges

- Twenty percent of children in homeless situations do not attend school.
- Homeless children have four times the number of developmental delays and double the number of learning disabilities than their housed peers.
- Homeless students are twice as likely to repeat a grade because of frequent absences than their housed peers.
- Within a year:
- 41 percent of children experiencing homelessness attend two different schools.
- 28 percent attend three or more different schools.

## Health Challenges

- Children experiencing homelessness have much higher incidences of acute and chronic illnesses.
- Many homeless children do not receive preventive or routine healthcare.
- Poor nutrition, experienced by many homeless children, aggravates poor health.
- 47 percent of children experiencing homelessness have problems such as anxiety, depression, or withdrawal, compared to 18 percent for other children (Better Homes Fund, 1999).

## Emotional Challenges

- Chaotic, fragmented lifestyle
- Loss of friends
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feeling like they don’t fit in
- Fear of the future
- Lack of trust
- No sense of permanence
- Fatalistic view of life
- Fewer safety nets
- Temptations to seek unsafe and unhealthy solutions
- Lack of caring adults
- Forced to make adult decisions before their time

## The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act

- Originally authorized in 1987 as the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77)
- Chief Sponsor, Representative Stewart B. McKinney (R-CT) (1931-1987)
- Co-Author, Representative Bruce F. Vento (D-MN) (1940-2000)
- Amended in 1990 (P.L. 101-645)
- Amended in 1994 as part of the Improving America’s Schools Act (P.L. 103-382)
- Reauthorized in 2001 as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act, part of the No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. 107-110)
- Each successive reauthorization strengthened the legislation by adding new provisions.

## Who Are the Homeless?

***McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless Children and Youths***
- “The term 'homeless children and youths' –
- (A) Means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
- (B) Includes-
- 	(i) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement.

## (ii) Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

(iii) Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
(iv) Migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).”

- (iii) Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
- (iv) Migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).”

***Who Are the Homeless? (cont.)***

## McKinney-Vento says:
States must designate a State Coordinator of Homeless Education and revise State policies or legislation that pose educational barriers to homeless children and youth.

Districts (LEAs) must designate a Local Homeless Education Liaison, regardless of whether the district is receiving M-V subgrant dollars.  The district must also revise state policies or legislation that pose educational barriers to homeless children and youth.

- States must designate a State Coordinator of Homeless Education and revise State policies or legislation that pose educational barriers to homeless children and youth.
- Districts (LEAs) must designate a Local Homeless Education Liaison, regardless of whether the district is receiving M-V subgrant dollars.  The district must also revise state policies or legislation that pose educational barriers to homeless children and youth.

***Requirements of McKinney-Vento******State and District Responsibilities***

## McKinney-Vento says:
Liaisons must ensure that children and youth in homeless situations are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies.

- Liaisons must ensure that children and youth in homeless situations are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies.

***Requirements of McKinney-Vento******Identification***

## Identification Strategies

- Coordinate with community service agencies, such as shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, street outreach teams, drop-in centers, welfare departments, housing departments, public health departments, and faith-based organizations.
- Provide outreach materials and posters where there is a frequent influx of low-income families and youth in high-risk situations, including motels and campgrounds.
- Provide awareness activities for school staff (registrars, secretaries, school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, teachers, bus drivers, administrators, etc.).
- Make special efforts to identify preschool children, including asking about the siblings of school-age children.
- Avoid using the word "homeless" in initial contacts with school personnel, families, or youth.

## McKinney-Vento says:
Liaisons must ensure that students enroll in, and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in, the schools of the LEA.
Schools must immediately enroll homeless children and youth, even if they are unable to provide records normally required for enrollment.

- Liaisons must ensure that students enroll in, and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in, the schools of the LEA.
- Schools must *immediately* enroll homeless children and youth, even if they are unable to provide records normally required for enrollment.

***Requirements of McKinney-Vento******Enrollment***

## McKinney-Vento says:
Children and youth in homeless situations can stay in their schools of origin, to the extent feasible, or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to their best interest.
Students can stay in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless, and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing.

- Children and youth in homeless situations can stay in their schools of origin, to the extent feasible, or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to their best interest.
- Students can stay in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless, and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing.

***Requirements of McKinney-Vento******School Selection***

## FeasibilityU.S. Department of Education Considerations

- Student-centered, individualized determination
- Age of the child or youth
- Safety of the student
- Length of anticipated stay in shelter
- Student's need for special instructional programs
- Impact of commute on education
- Time remaining in the school year

## WHY SCHOOL OF ORIGIN?WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF MOBILITY

- Students who switch schools frequently score lower on standardized tests (study found mobile students scored 20 points lower than non-mobile students).
- Mobility also hurts non-mobile students (study found average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly lower in high schools with high student mobility rates).
- It takes children 4-6 months to recover academically after changing schools.
- Students suffer psychologically, socially, and academically from mobility.  Mobile students are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble.
- Mobility during high school greatly diminishes the likelihood of graduation (study found students who changed high schools even once were less than half as likely as stable students to graduate, even controlling for other factors).

## Requirements of McKinney-VentoTransportation

**McKinney-Vento says:**
- LEAs must provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to and from their school of origin, at a parent’s or guardian’s request.
- In addition to providing transportation to the school of origin, LEAs must provide students in homeless situations with transportation services comparable to those provided to other students.

## Transportation Strategies

- Coordinate with local housing authorities and placement agencies to house students near their schools of origin.
- Re-route school buses (including special education, magnet school and other buses), and ensure that buses travel to shelters, transitional living programs, and motels where homeless students reside.
- Develop close ties among LEA homeless liaisons, school staff and pupil transportation staff, and designate a district-level point of contact to arrange and coordinate transportation.
- Provide passes for public transportation, including passes for caretakers when necessary.
- Take advantage of transportation systems used/provided by public assistance agencies.
- Use approved van or taxi services.

## McKinney-Vento says:
LEA liaisons must help unaccompanied youth choose and enroll in a school, after considering the youth’s wishes.
School personnel must be made aware of the specific needs of runaway and homeless youth.
The state plan must describe how homeless youth and youth separated from the public schools are identified and accorded equal access to appropriate secondary education and support services.

- LEA liaisons must help unaccompanied youth choose and enroll in a school, after considering the youth’s wishes.
- School personnel must be made aware of the specific needs of runaway and homeless youth.
- The state plan must describe how homeless youth and youth separated from the public schools are identified and accorded equal access to appropriate secondary education and support services.

***Requirements of McKinney-Vento******Unaccompanied Youth***

- Unaccompanied youth are those “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian” and include young people who have run away from home or have been forced to leave their homes.  [42 U.S.C. 11434A(6) (2002)]

## Strategies for Serving Unaccompanied Youth

- Train LEA and school staff on the definition, rights, and needs of unaccompanied youth.
- Develop collaborative relationships with local shelters, transition living programs, street outreach teams, and other service providers for unaccompanied youth.
- Develop affidavits of residence or other forms to replace typical proof of residency, which unaccompanied youth will often be unable to produce. Be careful to craft the forms so they do not create further barriers or delay enrollment.
- Use creative techniques to identify youth in homeless situations, including youth living doubled-up with friends or relatives, while respecting their privacy and dignity.
- Permit exceptions to school policies on class schedules, tardiness, absences, and credits to accommodate the
- 	needs of unaccompanied youth.

## Preschool Services to Homeless Children

- McKinney-Vento applies to preschools operated by LEAs and SEAs.
- State plans must ensure that children have access to preschool programs.  [722(g)(i)(F)(i)]
- Liaisons must ensure that families and children receive Head Start, Even Start and preschool program services.  [722(g)(6)(A)(iii)]
- State Coordinators must coordinate with social services agencies, child development and preschool program personnel and other agencies to provide comprehensive services to preschoolers.  [722(f)(4) and (5)(A)]
- U.S. HHS issued a memo describing how Head Start grantees should collaborate with State Coordinators, liaisons and community agencies and adjust their programs to serve children in homeless situations. (6/5/92)

## Have a question about homeless education?
Have a student who may be eligible for services under  the McKinney-Vento Act?
Need clarification on Federal, State, or local policies related to homeless education?
Who Can Help?

School District Liaison for Homeless Education
Every school district is required by law to have a local liaison to address issues related to homeless education and coordinate services for children and youth experiencing homelessness. To find out who the local liaison in is your district, contact your state coordinator for homeless education.

State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Each state department has a coordinator for homeless education. To find out who your state coordinator is, look on the NCHE website: www.serve.org/nche/statesres.htm  or call the NCHE HelpLine at 800-308-2145.

National Partners for Homeless Education
The national partners work closely with one another to provide materials and information to school districts, service providers, and parents in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion.

U.S. Department of Education
The coordinator for the Homeless Education Program at the U.S. Department of Education will provide up-to-date information regarding Departmental issues related to homeless education. See the back of this page for contact information.

**Have a student who may be eligible for services under  the McKinney-Vento Act?**
**Need clarification on Federal, State, or local policies related to homeless education?**
**Who Can Help?**
**School District Liaison for Homeless Education**
- Every school district is required by law to have a local liaison to address issues related to homeless education and coordinate services for children and youth experiencing homelessness. To find out who the local liaison in is your district, contact your state coordinator for homeless education.
**State Coordinator for Homeless Education**
- Each state department has a coordinator for homeless education. To find out who your state coordinator is, look on the NCHE website: _[www.serve.org/](http://www.serve.org/nche/statesres.htm)__[nche](http://www.serve.org/nche/statesres.htm)__[/](http://www.serve.org/nche/statesres.htm)__[statesres](http://www.serve.org/nche/statesres.htm)__[.](http://www.serve.org/nche/statesres.htm)__[htm](http://www.serve.org/nche/statesres.htm)_  or call the NCHE HelpLine at 800-308-2145.
**National Partners for Homeless Education**
- The national partners work closely with one another to provide materials and information to school districts, service providers, and parents in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion.
**U.S. Department of Education**
- The coordinator for the Homeless Education Program at the U.S. Department of Education will provide up-to-date information regarding Departmental issues related to homeless education. See the back of this page for contact information.

## National Partners for Homeless Education

**National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)**
- Patricia Popp, President
-  (Virginia State Coordinator for Homeless Education)
- _[Pxpopp@wm.edu](mailto:Pxpopp@wm.edu)_
*Ph: 757-221-7776*
**National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)**
- Diana Bowman, Director
- _[dbowman](mailto:dbowman@serve.org)__[@serve.org](mailto:dbowman@serve.org)_
- _[www.serve.org/nche](http://www.serve.org/nche)_
- Ph: 336-315-7453,  800-308-2145 (toll-free helpline)
**National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP)**
- Patricia Julianelle, Education Staff Attorney
- _[pjulianelle](mailto:pjulianelle@nlchp.org)__[@](mailto:pjulianelle@nlchp.org)__[nlchp](mailto:pjulianelle@nlchp.org)__[.org](mailto:pjulianelle@nlchp.org)_
- _[www.](http://www.nlchp.org/)__[nlchp](http://www.nlchp.org/)__[.org](http://www.nlchp.org/)_  Ph: 202-638-2535
**U.S. Department of Education**
- Gary Rutkin, Coordinator, Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program
- _[Gary.Rutkin@ed.gov](mailto:Gary.Rutkin@ed.gov)_
- Ph: 202-260-4412