Exercise samples

1. The McKinney-Vento Act
Back to School Review
2019
Provided as a template, free to download, edit and use,
with acknowledgement to SchoolHouse Connection.

2. Today’s Agenda
● Background and definition of homelessness
● School stability and transportation
● Immediate enrollment
● Support for academic success
● Resources
2

3. 1.35 million
Students experiencing homelessness, preK-12, identified by public
schools in 2016-2017.
7% increase over 4 years.
3
Source: National Center for Homeless Education (2019). National Overview.

4. Over 4 million
Unaccompanied homeless youth ages 14-24.
● Prevalence is statistically the same in rural and urban areas.
4
Source: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago (2017). Voices of Youth Count.

5. 1.3 million
Babies, toddlers, and young children under age 6 experienced homelessness
in 2016-2017.
● Infancy is the period of life when a person is most at risk of living in a
homeless shelter.
5
Source: U.S. Department of Education (2019). Early Childhood Homelessness State Profiles 2019.

6. Pop Quiz: True or False?
1. Most children and youth experiencing homelessness live
in shelters and transitional living programs.
2. Lack of a high school degree is the greatest risk factor for
young adult homelessness.
3. McKinney-Vento students can stay in the same school,
even if they move out of district.
4. McKinney-Vento students should sit out of school while
their school and health records are obtained.
5. McKinney-Vento applies to public preschools.
6

7. Definition: Who is eligible?
Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence.
● Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing,
economic hardship, or similar reason. [75.8% of identified
MV students in 2016–17]
● Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds
due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
[Motels: 6.6% of identified MV students in 2016–17]
7

8. “Determining Eligibility”
brief:
https://nche.ed.gov/downl
oads/briefs/det_elig.pdf
Definition: Who is eligible?
Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence. 11434a(2)
● Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
[13.9% of identified MV students in 2016–17]
● Living in a public or private place not designed for or
regularly used as accommodations.
● Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard
housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
○ What is substandard? Check utilities; infestations; mold; dangers.
8

9. 9

10. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
10
Definition:
A child or youth who meets the
McKinney-Vento definition of
homelessness and is not in the
physical custody of a parent or
guardian.

11. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
11
Youth run away due to abuse or neglect.
● 40-60% of unaccompanied youth were abused physically
at home.
● 17-35% of unaccompanied youth were abused sexually
at home.
● Research links parental substance abuse and youth
running away from home.

12. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
12
Parents force youth out of the home due to conflicts.
● Pregnancy
● Sexual orientation and gender identity
The circumstances of homelessness force families apart.
● Families become separated due to poverty, lack of space
in living situations, or shelter policies.
● 47% of youth experience homelessness both with
families and on their own.
Unaccompanied
youth resources:
https://www.nn4youth
.org/

13. Identification
●
67% of students say they
were uncomfortable
telling people at school
about their
homelessness and
asking for help.
13

14. Identification Activity
● What are red flags for potential homelessness?
● What should you do if you think a student might be
experiencing homelessness?
14
Identification tip:
Don’t say ”homeless.”
Use descriptive language.
• Are you staying somewhere
temporarily?
• Did you have to leave your
home?
• Where would you go if you
couldn’t stay here?

15. Educational Impacts
● 42% of students who experienced homelessness say they
dropped out of school at least once; 60% say it was hard
to stay in school while they were homeless.
● Homelessness is associated with an 87% likelihood of
dropping out of school, chronic absenteeism, and
disproportionate school discipline.
● Over time, the achievement gaps between homeless and
low-income elementary students tend to persist and may
even worsen.
15

16. Overcoming Homelessness
Through Education
● Lack of a high school diploma or GED is the top risk factor
for young adult homelessness: 346% more likely.
● By 2020, 65% of all jobs will require education beyond
high school.
● The McKinney-Vento Act is an important strategy to
overcome homelessness.
16

17. School of Origin: Definition
The school attended when permanently housed or the school
in which last enrolled, including a preschool.
Includes the designated receiving school at the next grade
level for all feeder schools, when the student completes the
final grade level served by the school of origin.
17
Help with school of origin and
preschool:
www.schoolhouseconnection.org/learn
/early-childhood/

18. Staying in the School of Origin
Each LEA shall, according to the child’s or youth’s best
interest:
● Keep the student in the school of origin for the duration
of homelessness, and until the end of the academic year
in which the student becomes permanently housed; or
● Enroll the student in any public school that housed
students living in the attendance area where the student
is living are eligible to attend. 11432(g)(3)(A)
18

19. Determining Best Interest
In determining best interest, the LEA shall:
● Presume that keeping the student in the school of origin
is in the student’s best interest.
● Unless contrary to the request of the parent, guardian, or
unaccompanied youth.
● Consider student-centered factors, including the impact
of mobility on achievement, education, health, & safety.
○ For preschool children, consider attachment to teachers;
availability and quality of services in the new area; and travel time.
● Give priority to the request of the parent/guardian.
● Give priority to the request of an unaccompanied youth.
19

20. Transportation to the School of Origin
● LEAs must provide transportation to and from the school of origin
(including preschools), including until the end of the year when the
student obtains permanent housing, at a parent’s or guardian’s
request (or at the liaison’s request for unaccompanied youth).
○ Even if transportation is not typically provided.
● If staying in the same LEA, that LEA must provide or arrange
transportation to the school of origin.
● If crossing LEA lines, both LEAs must determine how to divide the
responsibility and share the cost, or they must share the cost equally.
20

21. Immediate Enrollment
● 62% of McKinney-Vento students said that proof of
residency requirements posed a major challenge for
them when enrolling in a new school.
● 56% said lack of cooperation between their new and old
schools (records transfer) posed a major challenge.
● 60% found changing schools difficult to navigate.
21

22. Immediate Enrollment
McKinney-Vento students are entitled to immediate
enrollment in any public school that students living in the
same attendance area are eligible to attend, even if:
● Students do not have required documents, such as school
records, records of immunization and other required
health records, proof of residency, guardianship, or other
documents; or
● Students have missed application or enrollment
deadlines during any period of homelessness.
22

23. Immediate Enrollment
● “Enrollment” includes attending classes and participating fully in
school activities.
● The liaison must assist in obtaining immunization and other
health records or screenings, and immunizations if needed; the
student must be enrolled in the interim.
● Enrolling schools must obtain school records from the previous
school; the student must be enrolled while records are obtained.
● Immediate enrollment applies even without parent or guardian.
○ Typically, unaccompanied youth enroll themselves.
23

24. Support for Success
24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Homeless Low-income National average
2016-2017 On-time High School Graduation Rates

25. Support for Success:
Earning Credits
● SEAs and LEAs must implement procedures to identify
and remove barriers to McKinney-Vento students
receiving appropriate credit for full or partial coursework
completed at a prior school.
25
Quick Guide
for Counseling Staff:
https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org
/quick-guide-for-counselors-working-
with-students-experiencing-
homelessness/

26. Support for Success:
Full Participation
● Remove barriers to academic and extracurricular activities,
including magnet school, summer school, career and technical
education, advanced placement, online learning, and charter
school programs.
○ LEAs should anticipate and accommodate the needs of McKinney-
Vento students to enter these programs and consider giving them
priority on waitlists.
○ SEAs and LEAs should develop policies to expedite full participation
in extracurricular activities and work with athletic associations to
adjust policies to facilitate participation.
26

27. Support for Success:
Trauma-informed Care
● Homelessness is inherently traumatic and frequently violent.
● SEAs and LEAs should train staff on the traumatic effects of
homelessness and specific strategies to provide trauma-
informed care.
● SEAs and LEAs should ensure school personnel consider issues
related to homelessness prior to taking disciplinary action.
27
¡
Positive School Discipline Practices
for Students Experiencing
Homelessness:
https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org
/positive-school-discipline-practices-for-
students-experiencing-homelessness/

28. Support for Success:
Counseling & Intervention
● All McKinney-Vento youth must be able to receive counseling
from counselors to prepare and improve their readiness for
college (including college selection, application, financial aid, and
on-campus supports).
○ Coordinate with Early Warning Systems for dropout
prevention. They can help identify students experiencing
homelessness.
28

29. Let’s give this a try. (Elementary
school level)
Christine is a 4th grader with a 4 year old brother. She and her
mother just came in to enroll. When asked for proof of residence,
Christine’s mother said she was staying with a friend. She just
moved from the next town over. Christine loves to sing, but is
withdrawn and quiet now in the front office.
29

30. Let’s give this a try. (High school
level)
Josh is starting his 4th year of high school, although his credits put
him as an early junior. He has attended 3 different high schools and
just arrived to enroll in your school from a distant state. Josh is
staying with an uncle and has no contact with his parents. At his last
high school, Josh was a starter for the football team, and he would
like to play at your school.
30

31. Overcoming Homelessness:
Removing Barriers
● SEAs and LEAs must develop, review, and revise policies
to remove barriers to the identification, enrollment and
retention of McKinney-Vento students, including
barriers due to outstanding fees or fines, or absences.
○ This is a “broad, on-going requirement… with regular input from
homeless parents, youth, and advocates so that new barriers… do
not prevent” students from full, immediate enrollment and services.
31

32. Financial Aid for College
Liaisons must ensure unaccompanied youth are informed
they qualify as independent students for the FAFSA (apply
without parental information) and must assist the youth in
obtaining verification of that status.
● They need verification from a liaison, shelter provider, or
financial aid administrator.
32
Sample letter for the FAFSA,
Pathways to Partnership, and more::
www.schoolhouseconnection.org/lear
n/higher-education/

33. Pop Quiz: True or False?
1. Most children and youth experiencing homelessness live
in shelters and transitional living programs.
2. Lack of a high school degree is the greatest risk factor for
young adult homelessness.
3. McKinney-Vento students can stay in the same school,
even if they move out of district.
4. McKinney-Vento students should sit out of school while
their school and health records are obtained.
5. McKinney-Vento applies to public preschools.
33

34. www.vimeo.com/
● Empower
● Be discreet
● Follow through
● Never assume
● Listen
● Understand
● Defend
● Be there
34
Voices of Youth

35. Questions about students who may be
experiencing homelessness or how to
implement the law in your school?
INSERT Liaison contact information
35

36. Resources
● SchoolHouse Connection:
http://www.schoolhouseconnection.or
g/
● Hidden in Plain Sight:
http://www.americaspromise.org/repo
rt/hidden-plain-sight
● National Center on Homeless
Education:
● https://nche.ed.gov
● National Network for Youth:
http://www.nn4youth.org
● Education Leads Home:
● https://www.educationleadshome.org/
● Title I
○ http://center.serve.org/nche/
downloads/briefs/titlei.pdf
○ http://www2.ed.gov/policy/g
en/leg/recovery/guidance/tit
lei-reform.pdf
○ http://www2.ed.gov/progra
ms/homeless/homelesscoord
0815.pdf
● Early Childhood
○ http://www.acf.hhs.gov/prog
rams/ecd/expanding-early-
care-and-education-for-
homeless-children
36

37. About
SchoolHouse
Connection
SchoolHouse Connection works to
overcome homelessness through
education. We provide strategic advocacy
and technical assistance in partnership with
schools, early childhood programs,
institutions of higher education, service
providers, families, and youth.
● Website:
http://www.schoolhouseconnection.org
● Newsletter:
https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/sign-
up/
● Federal and state policy advocacy
● Q&A from our inbox
● Webinars and implementation tools
● Youth leadership and scholarships
37

38. The following slides on Title I are
intended for federal programs
staff and audiences working with
the Title I, Part A program.
38

39. Strategies for Success: Title I
● McKinney-Vento students attending any school in the LEA are
automatically eligible for Title IA services. 20 USC
6315(c)(2)(E); Guidance M1
● All LEAs that receive Title IA funds must set-aside the funds
necessary to provide McKinney-Vento students with services
comparable to services provided in Title IA schools. 20 USC
6313(c)(3)
○ Amount must be based on the total LEA allocation prior to
expenditures or transfers.
○ Amount must be sufficient to provide comparable services
to homeless students, regardless of other services
provided with reserved funds. Guidance M5
39

40. Calculating the Title I Set-Aside
● LEA set-aside amounts may be determined based on a needs
assessment that reviews homeless student enrollment averages
and trends over 2-3 years and multiplies by the average per-
pupil cost of providing Title I services.
● The needs of McKinney-Vento students should be reviewed at
least twice per school year.
● Each year’s set-aside should include an evaluation of the
effectiveness of past activities in accomplishing the goals of
both Title I and McKinney-Vento for individual students and the
overall programs. (Guidance M7)
40

41. Strategies for Success :
Using Title I Funds
Funds may be used:
● For McKinney-Vento children and youth attending any school in
the LEA.
● For services not ordinarily provided to other students.
● To fund the McKinney-Vento liaison. To provide transportation
to the school of origin.
● For educationally related support services, including preK.
20 USC 6313(c)(3) Guidance M4, M5, M10, J7
41

42. Strategies for Success :
Using Title I Funds
● USED’s general principles for using Title IA funds:
(Guidance M4)
○ Services must be reasonable and necessary to enable
homeless students to take advantage of educational
opportunities.
○ Funds must be used as a last resort when services are not
reasonably available from another public or private source.
42