West Virginia Department of Education
Rebecca Derenge
West Virginia McKinney-Vento Coordinator
Federal Programs Meeting
Title I and Homeless Education Program Collaboration:
Bridging the Gaps
Workshop Overview
This workshop will address:
 The importance of collaboration with Title I
 The importance of local educational
agency (LEA) and community engagement
 How to identify strategies to establish an
effective partnership and creative program
services
Possible Program Funding Sources
 Title I
 McKinney-Vento Assistance Grant
 General Fund
 Other Grants
Title I Regulations
NCLB, Title I, Part A, Title X, Part C,
Education for Homeless Children and
Youth
 The LEA shall reserve Title I, Part A funds to
provide comparable services to homeless
children that assist them to effectively take
advantage of educational opportunities as
provided to children in schools funded under
Title I, Part A. This reservation requirement is
not formula driven. The LEA shall reserve funds
as are necessary to provide comparable
services.
McKinney-Vento Eligible
McKinney-Vento
“HOMELESS” STUDENTS
Homeless Children Live:
• In a shelter (family shelter, domestic
violence shelter, youth shelter o
transitional living program);
• In a motel, hotel or weekly rate housing;
• In a house or apartment with more than
one family because of economic hardship
or loss (grandparents, aunts, uncles,
friends, etc.);
Homeless Students Live:
• In an abandoned building, a car, at a
campground or on the street;
• In temporary foster care or awaiting
foster care placement with an adult who
is not the parent or legal guardian;
• In substandard housing (no electricity, no
water, and/or no heat); or
• With friends or family because they are a
runaway or unaccompanied youth.
Title I Regulations (Cont.)
 LEAs will demonstrate coordination
with the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act, Title X, Part C.
Title I Regulations (Cont.)
 LEAs will adopt policies and practices
to ensure that homeless children and
youths are not stigmatized or
segregated on the basis of their status
as homeless.
Title I Regulations (Cont.)
 LEAs will designate an appropriate
staff person as a LEA liaison for
homeless children and youths, who will
fulfill his/her required duties and
ensure equal access to a free,
appropriate public education for
homeless children and youths.
Title I Regulations (Cont.)
 LEAs will adopt policies and practices
to ensure that transportation is
provided or arranged for homeless
children and youths, at the request of
the parent or guardian, to and from the
school of origin for the duration of their
homelessness.
Title I Reservation Set Aside
 The reservation is not determined
by a set formula
 It is determined by the LEA, as
appropriate
 Varies by state
Examples of Set Aside
Determinations
Method #1:
Identify homeless students’ needs and
fund accordingly.
Method #2:
Obtain count of homeless students, and
multiply by Title I, Part A per-pupil
allocation.
Examples of Set Aside
Determinations (Cont.)
Method #3:
Reserve an amount of funds greater
than or equal to the amount of your
Mckinney-Vento subgrant request.
Method #4:
Reserve a specific percentage based
on your district’s poverty level or
Title I, Part A allocation.
Allowable Uses for Homeless Education
Set Asides
 Provide academic support as well as non-academic support
to homeless students in non-Title I schools
 Provide activities other than direct instruction that promotes
student achievement
 Meet basic needs (clothing, supplies, health) of homeless
students
 Support homeless liaison position
 Hire special teachers, aides, and tutors to provide
supplemental instruction
 Reach out to parents in homeless situations
 Provide before-, after-school, or summer programs
 Collect data on homeless students
 Provide emergency food while the student is in school,
including breakfast, lunch, and snacks
Allowable Uses for Homeless
Education Set Asides (Cont.)
 Defray costs for medical, vision and dental expenses
 Pay fees associated with obtaining birth certificates or
immunizations
 Pay the cost of General Education Development Test
(GED) for homeless students
 Pay the cost of GED for homeless parents
 Provide transportation to and from after-school
programs
 Provide transportation to and from the school of origin
after the child becomes permanently housed
 Provide the cost of cap and gown to wear at graduation
 Provide the cost of class projects or field trips
Community Outreach
 Collaborative Efforts
• Create a community collaborative or task force
▪ Involve district and school personnel (including
Title I), school board members and city council
persons
▪ Need the community to keep issue in front
 Media/ Public Relations
• Radio
• Newspaper
• Event announcements
 Share news with district, school personnel,
and community partners
Next Steps
 Establish working relationship with Title I office
 Expand policy implementation
 Bring message to district staff, parents, and
community agencies
 Include or increase collaborative initiatives
resources on behalf of homeless youth and their
families
 Expand research for available funding sources
 Expand outreach efforts to parent organizations
Contact Information
Rebecca Derenge
McKinney-Vento Coordinator
West Virginia Department of Education
304-558-7881 x 53204
rderenge@access.k12.wv.us