Help with Scho Help with Schoo

(continued from the previous page) (continued from the previous page)
« Encouraging your children to make friends at school, get to know « Asking their teachers or school counselors to give them a student
their teachers and other school staff, and talk to you about how buddy to help them feel less alone and more accepted at school.

they are feeling and what their day was like. — . .
« Finding out about counseling resources in the community and

e Helping your children find a quiet place and time af going with your children to talk to a counselor.
for homework, either where you are staying or ina =

library or other place Returning to as many of your family routines as possible. For

example, do something simple as a family that you have all
enjoyed in the past like playing a game or going for a walk.

e Asking the school for a folder or envelope where
you can keep your children’s homework, tests, and
other school records. That way you will have them
available if your children need to change schools
again

« Taking good care of yourself, so you can take good care of your
children.

If my children missed a lot of school because of the disaster

* ‘Telling the school if you are planning to move again, so they can 0 or our housing situation, can they still enroll in school? Can
prepare school records and give you information to help you they get help to catch up?
decide between staying at the same school or going to a school

close to your new housing. Yes, they can definitely enroll in school, and the school must help
them catch up with the work they missed. Many schools offer

> My children are angry about what has happened to us and tutoring and after-school programs, The local liaison can explain to
0 got into a fight at school. What can | do to help them? you what services the school offers to help. For example, your child
may have to do extra work or receive partial credit instead of full
It is normal for your children to feel angry and confused. You can credit.

help them by:
Qs Can my high school age children still
« Letting your children know that it is normal for them to feel ° graduate on time?

afraid, angry, anxious, or confused. . .

7 oo Yes. Different states have different ways to make

« Encouraging them to talk about their feelings with you, school sure high school students can graduate on time.
counselors, mentors, and teachers The local liaison can explain to you what your

Spending as much time as possible with your children. Give them child needs to do to graduate.

more hugs than usual, and reassure them that you love them and

will take care of them lo What if my children are too young for

° regular school?
© Helping your children to feel in control by letting them make
some decisions about what to eat, what to wear, ete. The local liaison will help you find a preschool program for your

, . young children
* Asking their teachers or school counselors to give them an adult

mentor at school who can be a safe person for them to talk to.
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After the Storm After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters



Helpful Contacts Other Help

Store useful contact information here so that you can find it easily.

National Partners in Homeless Education

Local Liaison for Homeless Education

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and
Youth (NAEHCY)
www.naehcy.org

State Coordinator for Homeless Education

National Center on Homeless Education (NCHE)
wuww.serve.org/nche

School Front Office

National Law Center on Homele:
wuw.nichp.org

& Poverty (NLCHP)

Local Red Cross

Local Health Clinic

Public Transportation

Local Liaison Contact Information
City/County Office(s)

Your Place of Residence (shelter, motel, or other housing) . : . ;
State Coordinator Contact Information

Other Useful Contacts

NCHE Toll-free HelpLine

800-308-2145 National Center for Homeless Education
— P.O. Box 2367
Greensboro, NC 27435
FEMA Toll-free HelpLine: 800-308-2145
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) National Genter for www.serve.org/nche
Homeless Edooation

NCHE publications are supported through a contract with the U.S. Department of Education's
Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs.



Help with Scho

(continued from the previous page)
The local liaison can help you decide between staying at the same
school or going to a school close to where you are staying.

o 'f my children stay in the same school, how will they
© get there?

If your children stay at the same
the school has to make sure there is L
transportation for them to get to school g
and home after . AZ
probably won't be transportation for

sports and other after-school clubs and

activities. That might be important when

you are thinking about whether your

children should stay in the same school

or move to a new school.

What if | enroll my children in a new school, and then we
‘0 move again right away? Can the children stay in the same
school, or do they have to change schools again?

As long as your family is living in a temporary place or in a place
that is not healthy or safe, your children can keep going to the same
school, if that is what you want and that is in their best interest.
The school has to make sure there is transportation for your
children to and from school during this time. Once you find
permanent housing, your children can finish the school year in the
same school. Again, the local liaison can help you decide between
staying at the same school or going to a school close to your new
housing. If your children have only been in the new school for a few

s, they might prefer to change schools again, if you think you will
in the new housing for quite a while, Some children prefer
going to the same school as their friends in the neighborhood.

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters

Help with Schoo

lo What if the school that I choose will not accept
° my children?

If a school will not enroll your children, or if you and the school don’t
agree about which school is best for your children, you have the
right to have that dispute settled in a fair way. Usually, the local
liaison will make the first decision. If you don’t agree with that
decision, then the State Coordinator can help settle the problem
While all that is happening, your children can go to the school where
you want them to go. Contact NCHE at 1-800-308-2145 if you have
problems getting a dispute settled.

lo What if my children have
© special needs?

The school is required to set up appropriate services for children
with special needs. That might mean help for children who are blind
or deaf or have other physical problems, or it might mean special
education for children who need extra help or support in the
classroom. Be sure to tell the school staff, teachers, and the local
liaison what your child needs and if your child received special
education services at the last school.

lo What can! do to help my children feel safe and do
© well in school?

You know your children better than anyone. You can help your
children do well in school by:

« Telling school staff, teachers, and the local liaison about any
special needs or circumstances that your children have. Schools
need to know about your children’s interests, fears, strengths,
and needs, and any other information that would help them place
your children in the appropriate classes and services.

¢ Visiting the school with your children or meeting teachers and
other staff.

(continued on the nest page)

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters



The McKinney-Vento Act gives your children the right to:

* Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived
there. They must be given access to the same public education,
including preschool education, provided to other children

* Continue in the school they attended

jast attended, if that is your choice
and is feasible. If a school sends your child
to a school other than the one you request,
the school must provide you with a written
explanation and offer you the right to
appeal the decision.

¢ Receive transportation to and from the school they attended
before your family became homeless or the school they last
attended, if you request such transportation.

e Attend a school and participate in school programs with children
who are not homeless. Children cannot be separated from the
regular school program because they are homeless

¢ Enroll in school without giving a permanent address. Schools
cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay
school enrollment.

* Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the
transfer of school and immunization records or any other
documents required for enrollment.

¢ Enroll and attend classes in the school of your choice, even while
you and the school seek to resolve a dispute over enrolling your
children

e Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as
provided to all other children served in these programs.

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters

he McKinney-Vento Act

Qs How else can the school or local liaison
° help my family?

The school offers your children safety, friendship

learning, sport: counseling,

clothes, me: . tutoring, fun, and

a return to how life was before they left home.

The school can also offer you support, information

about the new community, counseling, adult

education programs, and other services that can help you support
your children and get back on your feet. And the school can put you
in contact with other agencies like FEMA and the Red Cross.

> We still have questions about enrolling our children in
© school. Who can help us?

Contact your local liaison or State Coordinator for Homeless
Education. The National Center for Homeless Education can also
help. Call 1-800-308-2145, email homeless @serve.org, or visit the
website at www.serve.org/nche.

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters



hs
i

Genter for
asation
eave

After the Storm:

Information for Parents
on How Schools Can Help
After Disasters

A Handbook for Parents

Connecting Schools and
Displaced Students Series
Winter 2006

This document was produced under U.S. Department of
Education contract ED-04-CO-0056 0001

For more information on the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Program, contact the U.S. Department of Education,
Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs
(SASA), Office of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
(ESEA).

Phone: 202-260-0826

Website: www.ed .gov/programs/homeless/index.htm|

For additional information on providing assistance for schools
serving students displaced by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes,
visit Hurricane Help for Schools at
http://hurricanehelpforschools.gov/index.html

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is a
national resource center of research and information enabling
communities to address the needs of children and their families
and of unaccompanied youth in homeless situations

NCHE is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is
housed at SERVE at the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro. Phone: 800-308-2145

Website: www.serve.org/nche.

For additional information and resources on providing assistance
for schools serving students displaced by the 2005 Gulf Coast
hurricanes or other disasters, visit www.serve.org/nche and click
on Disaster Relief Efforts.



Other Help

Os How can FEMA
° help us?

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is a part of the
federal government. It provides many different kinds of services,
like:

¢ Shelters, trailers, and money for motels

© Help paying for rent after a disaster.

e Help for medical, dental, funeral, and transportation costs.

* Help if you lost your job (Disaster Unemployment Assistance).
* Free help from an attorney

* Counseling and mental health services.

You can contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or at
wuww.fema.gov.

Qs How can the Red Cross
° help us?

The Red Cross can help you with food, water, short-term shelter,
counseling support, and finding your family. You can get more
information at www.redcross.org.

lo Who else can
° help us?

You can find help and support from the
Salvation Army, the United Way, and other
groups like shelters and motels; churches
and temples; health clinics; housing,
employment, social security, and public
benefits offices; civic clubs, like Lions and
Rotary; and soup kitchens and food pantries.

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters

Other Help

lo We don’t know this town. How can we find
° these groups?

The local liaison can give you information about
resources in the community. For example, ask
the liaison any questions you have about public
buses, shelters and motels, health clinics,
housing agencies, employment offices, and where
to find laundromats, grocery stores, pharmaci
clothing stores, and discount stores. You can also
ask other parents, or ask at churches, temples,
community centers, libraries, shelters, food pantries, or other places.

i ‘YANN ea
\ alii {
oa

NCHE duct Highlight

Parent Pack Pocket Folder

This sturdy, laminated folder provides a place to
keep important records and documents related to
your children's education. The folder also includes
information on the rights of children and youth
experiencing homelessness and helpful tips about
enrollment and disenrollment. These posters are
available in Spanish and English at no charge and
can be ordered by calling 800-308-2145 or by visiting
www.serve.org/nche/online_order.php.

Parent, Pack
Pocket Folder

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters



This booklet will provide you with helpful information about
how schools can help you and your children get back on your
feet after a disaster. It will explain how to enroll in school
after a disaster and tell you about some groups that can help
you, like FEMA, the Red Cross, and others. For more
information on enrolling in school and other available
assistance, contact. the National Center for Homeless
Education (NCHE) at 1-800-808-2145, homeless@serve.org, or
is rveorg/nche.

| wwU

Children who have to leave their homes because of
hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods, mudslides, earthquakes,
or other disasters lose a lot of things. But they do not lose
their right to go to school.

And school is more than just a classroom. School is a place
where children can find safety, friendship, learning, sports,
clubs, nurses, counseling, clothes, free meals, tutoring, fun,
and a return to how life was before they left home. School is
also a place where parents can find support, information
about your new community, and programs and services that,
can help you get back on your feet.

Tf you left your home because of a disaster and are staying in
a friend's or relative’s house, in a shelter, in a temporary or
inadequate trailer, in a motel, in a campground, or in another
temporary place, your children can go to school close to where
you are staying. Even without a permanent address, school
records, a legal guardian, a school uniform, or other papers or
supplies, children and youth living in temporary situations
can go to school.

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters

Help with Scho

lo Who can help me enroll my children
° in school?

Every school district has a person who can help you enroll your
children. That person is called the Local Homeless Education
Liaison (hereafter called the “local liaison”). Some districts may call
this person the McKinney-Vento Project Coordinator or the
McKinney-Vento Liaison. A staff member at a school or at the
administration office can put you in contact with that person. If you
have trouble finding the local liaison, call NCHE at 1-800-308-2145
for help.

Every state also has a person who can help you. That person is
called the State Coordinator for Homeless Education (hereafter
called the “State Coordinator’). Some states may call this person the
McKinney-Vento State Coordinator. You can find your State
Coordinator by visiting the NCHE website at
wuw.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php or by calling
1-800-308-2145 for a NCHE staff person to help you.

\o Is it really that easy to enroll my children
© in school?

Yes. There is a law that says that children and youth who lost their
housing and are living in a temporary or inadequate place can go to
school, including public preschools. This law is the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters



Help with Scho

Qs Does this law help all children who lose their home because
° of a disaster or for other reasons?

It helps all children and youth who lose their homes or must leave
their homes and are living in a temporary place, or in a place that is
not healthy or safe. For example, it helps most children and youth
who are living:

* with friends or with relatives because they lost their housing, or
because of economic hardship

* ina motel or a hotel.

© ina campground or in a temporary or
inadequate trailer.

© ina shelter.
© inacar.

e inapark, ina bus station or a train
station, or in another public place.

0 Can | enroll my children in school without all the papers that
‘0 we uSually need like proof of address, school records,
immunization papers, and birth certificates?

Yes. Children and youth can start school right away, even with no
records. The school will get the records from the old school, if they
are available. If your children need immunizations, the school will
help you get those.

Some parents in emergency shelters who know they are going to
move in a day or two choose to put off school enrollment until after
they move. This might be better for the children or youth. But you
probably should not wait more than a couple of days to enroll. Going
to school gives children a lot of support and resources, helps them
reconnect to their life before they left home, and keeps them from
falling behind. It also gives them a safe place to be and productive
things to do while you are busy looking for food, clothes, housing,
health care, and work.

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters

Help with School

Qs There are some teenagers in the shelter without their
° parents. Can they enroll in school?

Yes. Teenagers who are separated from their parents can enroll in
school right away. They should ask the local liaison for help. They
can also get more information from a booklet called After the Storm:
Information for Youth on How Schools Can Help After Disasters, at
wuww.serve.org/nche/products.php, or by calling NCHE at 1-800-
308-2145.

Qs Can | enroll my children in school if we don’t
° have school uniforms or school supplies? }

Yes. The school will provide you with uniforms or
appropriate school clothing as well as school
supplies. Your children will also be able to
participate in the free school meal program right
away, if you choose.

lo What if we lost our housing but are staying close to home?
° Can my children stay in their old school?

Yes. Your children can keep going to the same school if that is what
you want and that is in their best interest. Usually, it is much better
for children to stay in the same school. They are settled in their
classes, have friends, know their teachers and counselors, and may
be involved in sports or clubs. When children change schools, their
grades, emotional comfort, and academic progress often suffer.

But sometimes it might be a better idea for a child to change
schools. For example, you might choose to enroll your child in the
new school close to where you are staying if it is a long trip to the old
school, if the school year just started so a change would be less
difficult, if the new school has more appropriate programs or classes,
if you think you are going to stay in the new area for a long time, or
if you are worried about the child's safety.

(continued on the next page)

After the Storm
Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters