An Orientation to
McKinney-Vento
Homeless Education
Fall 2015
Agenda
 Introductions & Ground Rules
 McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance




The Law
Who’s Homeless
Educational Rights of Homeless Children and Youth
Role of the Homeless Liaison
Break
 Homelessness in Massachusetts
 Best Practices
 Related Topics
 Questions
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Introductions
Please include:
Your name,
District or Agency,
Your job/position, and
Your connection to homeless education.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Ground Rule
While we will look at some cases, and that can
be a good way of learning to work with the
law, we must maintain the children and
families’ confidentiality.
For questions regarding specific cases please
withhold identifying information or see us
during the break or after this session.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
4
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education
Assistance Act, 2002
 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance
 1990 Amended to remove barriers to education
 1994 McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance
 2002 No Child Left Behind
So why do we even have this law?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Why McKinney-Vento?
Homelessness is a journey not an overnight event – that has enormous impact on
children and their education.
Homelessness effects
Whole family
School attendance
The ability to focus and learn
Educational gaps due to high mobility
Behavior.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Why McKinney-Vento?
Homelessness is often accompanied with
Food insecurity
Lack of medical, dental, and mental health services
Loss of connection to family, friends, community
Homelessness also impacts the teacher and the
other students in the classroom.
Students coming and going
Could that happen to me?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Law
Definition - Who is Homeless?
Educational Rights of Students Who are Homeless
School Selection & Enrollment
Transportation
Nutrition
Equal Access & Comparable Services
Title I
See ESE Homeless Education Advisories on webpage
Role of the Homeless Liaison
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Definition: Who is Homeless?
Anyone who lacks fixed regular and adequate
nighttime residence.
This includes:
Shelters and motels
On the street: cars, parks, …
Doubling up due to Economic hardship, loss of housing
or similar reason
Unaccompanied youth
Awaiting foster care
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Homeless? Case Study
Mary arrives at the Parent Information Center to
enroll her second grader. She explains that she has
just arrived in town and is living with her mother.
She cannot prove residency and is unwilling to
show you a lease.
Is she housed? Or homeless?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Educational Rights of Students Who
are Homeless
School Selection & Enrollment
School of Origin
School last attended
School attended when student became homeless
Immediate Enrollment Locally
With or Without Documentation
Unaccompanied Youth
Enrolled means enrolled and attending
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Educational Rights of Students Who
are Homeless
Documentation
Student Records
Residency
Shelter
Transportation
Shared Responsibility
Special Education
Nutrition
Free Lunch and Breakfast
Liaison verification
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Educational Rights of Students Who are
Homeless
Equal Access & Comparable Services
School Courses, Events, Activities
Student Support Services
Preschool
Charter Schools, Vocational Schools, school choice
Title I
School-wide & Targeted Programs
Addressing the unique needs of homeless students
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Homeless? Case Study
 What are Mary’s options?
 What could the enrollment staff do?
 What can the district ask from Mary?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Role of the
Homeless Education Liaison
Identification
Building awareness is key
Professional development and training
School committee
Transportation
Communicating with your counterparts
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Role of the
Homeless Education Liaison
 Facilitate Enrollment & Dispute Resolution Process
 Ensure Equal Access & Comparable Services
 Referral to Community or Outside Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Role of the
Homeless Education Liaison
 Data Collection
 Tracking for internal purposes
1. Support services
2. Transportation reimbursement
Annual ESE data collection
1. Students that are enrolled with you
2. Enter - do not delete
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Role of the
Homeless Education Liaison
ESE contact
Current list of homeless liaisons on the ESE website.
Updated by the district’s Directory Amdinistrator
Please verify your contact information
Monitoring and Compliance
Desk Review
Visits
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Homeless? Case Study
 What might Mary’s children need?
 What could the homeless liaison do?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Break
Take a few minutes for you and
a few minutes to say hello to a colleague!
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Journey Through
Homelessness - Case Study
 Tommy, a first grader, has made several trips to the school
nurse’s office in the past month with vague complaints of
not feeling good. Mom recently mentioned that her work
hours were cut and the family is struggling. Today Tommy
fell asleep in the nurse’s office saying they can’t sleep at
home anymore.
 What is going on? Could he be homeless?
 What can the nurse do? What can you do?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Homelessness in Massachusetts
 2014/15 School Year By the Numbers
Shelters
Motels
Doubled up
Unaccompanied
Unsheltered
Awaiting Foster Care
5,070
3,559
7,620
851
173
2,232
Total
19,515
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Homelessness in Massachusetts
Doubling up
• Living with friends or relatives due to economic
hardship, loss of housing and similar reason
Summer Campgrounds & Winter Rentals
Couch surfing
Families
Unaccompanied youth
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Homelessness in Massachusetts
State Shelter system
•
•
•
•
•
Family Shelters: congregate shelter, scatter site shelter
Motels
Unaccompanied Youth in Adult Shelters
Moving out of Shelter & Signing a Lease
Enrollment Verification Letter
Department of Children and Families
• STARR, TCU, Temporary foster care (90 days)
• Formerly homeless or Fostering Connections
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Best Practices
Policy
Template at MASC.org
ESE summary page
Sample District Policies
Enrollment
Do your enrollment forms cite McKinney-Vento or
families in transition?
Public Notice
Scanning for safety
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Best Practices
Identification, the key is training.
Who: enrollment staff, guidance, principals, nurses
DVDs
Awareness building: school committee, community
Student Support Services
Collaboration with Title 1, sped, ELL, …
21st Century, Afterschool/Out of School,…
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Best Practices
Collaboration and Outreach
Medical, mental, and dental health
Food Pantries & Clothing Banks
Local transportation
Local housing advocates
Local enrichment opportunities
Public Libraries
Municipal Parks and Recreation
YM/WCAs, Boys and Girls, Out of School Time Providers
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Related Topics
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth and Young Adult
Commission
Passed by the state legislature
ESE is a participating member
US ICH Open Doors focus on unaccompanied youth
Youth Count! 2nd statewide count.
Post-Secondary Homeless Education Network
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at public institutions
Regional Forums
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Related Topics
Trafficking
Migrant Education Program
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
What’s on your mind?
 What are you seeing?
 What are you concerned about?
 What’s working for you?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Is your contact information up to
date?
Your District’s Contact
Verify your contact information on the ESE website
Including name, email, phone and extension;
Update is done by the District’s Directory Administrator
– not by ESE;
Parents, providers and other state agencies reference
this list; and
This is how we reach you.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Looking for more information?
National Center for Homeless Education
NCHE, serve.org
National Association for the Education of Homeless
Children and Youth
naehcy.org/
National Runaway Safeline
1800runaway.org
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
mahomeless.org
MHSA Young Adult Resource Guide
http://www.mhsa.net/about-us/young-adults
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
We are Glad to Help…
Office for the Education of
Homeless Children and Youth
Website http://www.doe.mass.edu/mv/
homelessed@doe.mass.edu
781-338-6315
Sarah Slautterback, State Coordinator
781-338-6330 sslautterback@doe.mass.edu
Elizabeth Harris, Student Support
781-338-6310 eharris@doe.mass.edu
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education