Homeless Students
and the
Expenditure of Title I Part A Funds
Rebecca Derenge, N&D Coordinator
McKinney –Vento Act and the Required Coordination
with Title I, Part A
• Addressed in NCLB Section 1113(c)(3)
• Districts receiving Title I Part A funds are
required to set aside funding to address the
needs of identified homeless students in both
Title I and non Title I schools
• LEA Title I strategic plans must address
coordination with the requirements of the
McKinney-Vento Act
Mandatory Reservation of Funds
• According to Title I, Part A, LEAs must reserve (or set aside) such funds as
are necessary to provide comparable services to homeless children who
are not attending Title I schools. [20 USC6313(c)(3)]
• In determining appropriate expenditures for the funds set aside for
homeless students, it is important to note that comparable services do not
mean services that are necessarily identical to other Title I, Part A,
services.
• In determining the set-aside amount, LEAs should allow for the provision of
services to homeless students who attend Title I schools that will meet the
unique needs of these children above and beyond t he regular Title I
programs at those schools.
Determining the Set-Aside
Method #1
Based on last year’s
cost data and homeless
population changes
Method #3
Reserve an amount of
funds greater than or
equal to the amount of
the LEA McKinney-Vento
subgrant.
Method #2
Homeless student
count and multiply by
Title I, Part A per pupil
allocation.
Method #4
% based on district’s
poverty level or total
Title I Part A allocation.
Method #1
• Method #1: Identify homeless students’
needs, and fund accordingly.
Based on last year’s expenditures for
homeless students, determine the Title I
set-aside, taking into account any changes
anticipated in the population of homeless
students.
Method #2
• Method #2: Obtain count of homeless students
and multiply by the average amount of the Title I,
Part A per-pupil allocation.
• Example: Your district identifies 10 children as
homeless, using the McKinney-Vento definition.
Your average Title I, Part A per-pupil allocation is
$600. The LEA could comply with the set-aside
requirement by reserving $6,000 ($600 per-pupil
allocation x 10 students).
Method #3
• Method #3: Reserve an amount of funds
greater than or equal to the amount of the
LEA McKinney-Vento subgrant.
Method #4
• Method #4: Reserve a specific percentage
based on the district’s poverty level or total
Title I, Part A allocation.
• For example, a district might set aside
between 1 percent and 5 percent of its total
allocation, depending on the district’s poverty
level and the total district Title I Part A
allocation.
Eligibility for Services
Homeless students are:
• Automatically eligible for services under
Title I, Part A
• Not required to live in a Title I school
attendance area
• Recognized as a population of disadvantaged
students
• Not required to meet the academic standards
required of other children for eligibility of Title I
services
Services
• Provide services to eligible homeless students in both Title I
and non-Title I schools
• Ensure services are comparable to services provided to nonhomeless students in Title I schools
• Ensure services provided assist homeless children in meeting
the State's challenging academic content and academic
achievement standards
• May provide academic support services to children in shelters
Types of Services
The LEA has the discretion to use reserved funds
to provide a homeless student with services that
are not ordinarily provided to other Title I
students and that are not available from other
sources.
Types of Services and Expenditures
Acceptable uses of the Title I Part A funds set aside to address the needs
of homeless include the following items:
•
•
•
•
Clothing
Personal care items
School supplies-above what is provided by the district
Tutoring-above what is provided by the school the student is
attending
• Counseling-above what is provided by the school the student is
attending
• Additional parent trainings for parents in homeless situations
• Additional LEA homeless liaison (must be in addition to the LEA
attendance director)
Unallowable Expenditures
• LEAs may NOT use funds under Title I to transport
homeless students to or from their school of origin.
Transportation services to the school of origin are
mandated under the McKinney-Vento Act’s statute.
• The “no-supplanting” provisions in Title I prohibit
those funds from being used to support activities
that the LEA would otherwise be required to provide.
Q/A
Is there a time limit on how long a child may be considered
homeless?
No Whether a child meets the definition of homelessness
depends upon the living situation and individual
circumstances.
Q/A
If a homeless child becomes permanently housed during a
school year, is that child eligible to receive Title I, Part A
services for the remainder of that school year?
Yes In general, a homeless child or youth that becomes permanently
housed during a school year continues to remain eligible for Title I, Part A
services for the remainder of that school year.
Q/A
Does a State’s academic assessment system need to include
homeless students?
Yes The final regulations that implemented changes to the standards and
assessment requirements of Title I, Part A require States to include homeless
students in their academic assessment, reporting, and accountability systems,
consistent with section 1111(b)(3)(C)(xi) of the ESEA.
Assessments of homeless students are to be included in school district or in
State accountability systems when students have been in a school for a full
academic year. However, States are not required to disaggregate, as a
separate category, the assessment results of homeless students.
Q/A
Must students who experience homelessness have access to
educational services for which they are eligible?
Yes Students who experience homelessness must have access to
educational services for which they are eligible. This includes
services such as special education, programs for English learners,
gifted and talented programs, voc./tech. programs, and school
nutrition programs.
Strategies to Facilitate Coordination and Collaboration Between Title I and the
McKinney-Vento Act
• Ensure that LEA local liaisons attend Title I conferences and in-services,
and that Title I coordinators attend homeless education conferences and
in-service professional development.
• Ensure collaboration between local Title I coordinators and LEA local
liaisons on a plan that identifies ways that Title I will serve children and
youth experiencing homelessness.
• Ensure collaboration between the State Title I coordinator and the State
McKinney-Vento coordinator on the State Title I plan or the State
consolidated plan.
Strategies to Facilitate Coordination and Collaboration Between
Title I and the McKinney-Vento Act
• Share Title I and Homeless Education handbooks with other program staff.
• Collect and share within and across districts concrete data on the needs of
children and youth in homeless situations.
• Initiate district efforts to make organizational accommodations for eligible
students, as necessary, in such areas as transportation, remaining in the
school of origin, records transfer, class scheduling, and special services
that will help them enroll, attend, and succeed in school.
Strategies to Facilitate Coordination and Collaboration Between
Title I and the McKinney-Vento Act
 Ensure that the needs of highly mobile students are included in the school
improvement plans and not addressed as a separate issue.
 Establish and widely disseminate information on district-wide policies,
procedures, and guidelines to identify and serve eligible students.
 Ensure LEA homeless liaison representation on the State Committee of
Practitioners.
 Include homeless parents in Title I parental involvement policies and
create opportunities for homeless parents to be involved.
Symposium on Homeless Education and Title I - Hosted by U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for
Homeless Education (NCHE) 2001
Essential Actions to Improve a Homeless Student’s
Chances for Success
• Educate the LEA staff and community
• Coordinate services among programs and
agencies
• Advocate for the personal and academic
needs of homeless students
• Communicate with partners and the
Thank you for your attention!