Pam Kies-Lowe
State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Michigan Department of Education
Lansing, MI
Julie Davis
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant Coordinator & Case Manager
Wayne Metro Community Action Agency/Wayne RESA
Wayne County, MI
Xavier “X” Gaudard
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant Coordinator
Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle (COP) Educational Services District
Indian River, MI
TODAY’S AGENDA
 Background on the Homeless Education Law
 Data on Homeless Students
 Impact of the Law on Pupil Transportation
 Homeless Transportation Strategies
 Urban vs Rural Scenarios
 Q&A
June 26, 2012
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McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act
 Reauthorized in 2002 as Title X of NCLB/ESEA
 Main themes:

School stability




School access
Support for academic success
Child-centered focus
Decision making in the best
interest of child
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Who is Homeless?
Children who lack a fixed, regular, and
adequate nighttime residence:
 Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic
hardship, or similar reason
 Living in motels, hotels, RV/trailer parks, camping grounds
due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations
 Living in emergency, domestic violence, or transitional shelters
 Temporary foster care placement or awaiting placement
 Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to
live or sleep
 Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train
stations, under bridges, etc.
 Migratory children living in above circumstances
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RIGHTS OF ELIGIBLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH
 Right to immediate enrollment even when
records not present
 Right to remain in the school of origin, if in the
student’s best interest
 Right to receive transportation to the school of
origin (last attended or attended when last permanently housed)
 Support for academic success
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Barriers to Education for
Homeless Children and Youth
 Enrollment requirements (lack of school records,
immunizations, proof of residence and guardianship)
 High mobility resulting in lack of school stability and
educational continuity
 Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc.
 Lack of access to programs
 Lack of transportation
 Poor health, fatigue, hunger
 Prejudice and misunderstanding
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The Roles of Local District Liaisons
By linking students and their families to school and community services, local
district Homeless Liaisons play a critical role in stabilizing students and
promoting academic achievement at the individual, school, and district level.
Local liaisons must:
 IDENTIFY children and youth in homeless situations
 ENROLL IMMEDIATELY and provide opportunity for students to attend, participate and
have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.
 PROVIDE educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even
Start, and preschool programs administered by the LEA; and referrals to health, mental
health, dental, and other appropriate services.
 INFORM parents/guardians of educational and related opportunities available to
their children and provide meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of
their children.
 FULLY INFORM of all transportation services available under the McKinney-Vento Act,
including transportation to the school of origin, and are assisted in accessing these services.
 POST PUBLIC NOTICE of the educational rights of students in homeless situations
where families, children and youth receive services.
 MEDIATE DISPUTES in accordance with the Enrollment Disputes section of the
McKinney-Vento Act.
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Research on School Mobility
 It takes children an average of 4-6 months to recover
academically after changing schools.
 Mobile students score 20 points lower on standardized tests
than non-mobile students.
 Mobile students are less likely to participate in extracurricular
activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble.
 Average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly
lower in high schools with high student mobility rates.
 Students who changed high schools even once were less than
half as likely as stable students to graduate, even controlling for
other factors.
Project Forum at NASDSE, March 2007
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, 2006
June 26, 2012
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Impact of Homelessness on
Children and Youth
Research shows that homeless children are more
likely to suffer from:
 Health problems
 Emotional and mental health problems
 Developmental problems
 4 times more likely to show delayed development.
 2 times as likely to have learning disabilities as non-homeless
children.
 Academic performance problems
 2.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in math
 1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in reading
 1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level in spelling
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REGIONAL McKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS EDUCATION GRANT CONSORTIA
2011 – 2014 Grant Cycle
McKinney-Vento
Grant Consortia
Keweenaw
Houghton
Ontonagon
Baraga
Luce
Marquette
Gogebic
Dickinson
2011 - 2014
Chippewa
Alger
Iron
Schoolcraft
Mackinac
Delta
 ALL MI COUNTIES represented in
Homeless Education Grant Consortia
Emmett
McKinney-Vento Consortium Grants
FISCAL AGENTS
Marquette-Alger RESA
C.O.P. ESA
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Alpena Public Schools
Iosco County ISD
Mason County Central Schools
Mecosta-Osceola ISD
Clare Public Schools
Newaygo County RESA
Muskegon Public Schools
Montcalm Area ISD
Carrollton Public Schools
Tuscola ISD
Ottawa Area ISD
Kent ISD
Genesee ISD
St. Clair RESA
Potterville Public Schools
Lansing Public Schools
Livingston ESA
Oakland Schools ISD
Macomb County ISD
Kalamazoo Public Schools
Calhoun County ISD
Jackson County ISD
Washtenaw ISD
Wayne RESA
Berrien County RESA
St. Joseph County ISD
Branch County ISD
Adrian Public Schools
Monroe County ISD
June 26, 2012
Cheboygan
Menominee
Presque
Isle
Charlevoix
Antrim
Otsego
Montmorency
 Over 96% of MI LEAs participating in
M-V Grant Consortia
Alpena
Leelanau
Region 1
Benzie
Grand
Traverse
Manistee
Wexford
Mason
Lake
Kalkaska
Crawford
Missaukee
Osceola
Roscommon
Clare
Oscoda
Ogemaw
Gladwin
Alcona
Iosco
Region 3
Arenac
Huron
Oceana
Newaygo
Isabella
Mecosta
Midland
Bay
Tuscola
Montcalm
Gratiot
Sanilac
Saginaw
Muskegon
Genesee
Ottawa
Ionia
Kent
Clinton
Lapeer
Shiawassee
Region 2
St. Clair
Macomb
Allegan
Van Buren
Barry
Kalamazoo
Eaton
Calhoun
Ingham
Jackson
Livingston
Oakland
Washtenaw
Wayne
Region 5
Detroit
Berrien
Cass
St. Joseph
Branch
Hillsdale
Lenawee
Monroe
Region 4
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Homeless Student Enrollment Data
Homeless Students in Michigan
35,000
31,133
30,000
22,673
25,000
2007-08
2008-09
20,000
14,875
15,000
10,000
2009-10
2010-11
7,500
5,000
0
# Enrolled
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Homeless Enrollment SY 2009-2010
by Nighttime Residence
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STATE HOMELESS STUDENT ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE DATA*
Grades 3-8, Proficiency
SY0708
SY0809
SY0910
National % Proficient in Reading
42%
54%
52%
MI % Proficient in Reading
53%
57%
70%
National % Proficient in Math
41%
53%
50%
MI % Proficient in Math
47%
61%
66%
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF MICHIGAN HOMELESS STUDENTS IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE!
*As measured by student performance on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP)
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Impact on District Pupil Transportation
“If the homeless child or youth continues to live in the area served by the LEA in
which the school of origin is located, the child’s or youth’s transportation to and
from the school of origin shall be provided or arranged by the LEA in which the
school of origin is located.
“If the homeless child’s or youth’s living arrangements in the area served by the
LEA of origin terminate and the child or youth, though continuing his or her
education in the school of origin, begins living in an area served by another LEA,
the LEA of origin and the local educational agency in which the homeless child or
youth is living shall agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and
costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school of origin.
“If the local educational agencies are unable to agree upon such method, the
responsibility and costs for transportation shall be shared equally…
“Comparable Services — Each homeless child or youth to be assisted under this
subtitle shall be provided services comparable to services offered to other
students in the school selected under paragraph (3), including the following: (A)
Transportation services….”
McKinney-Vento Act Sec. 722(g)(1)(J)(iii) and (g)(4)(A); 42 U
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Impact on Pupil Transportation - 2
 The law specifically states that COST cannot be used as a
reason for declining a school of origin transportation request.
 Districts that do not provide transportation to any other
students still MUST PROVIDE IT for homeless students.
 Districts in which shelters and low income housing are located
bear half the cost of transporting homeless students for which
they receive no funding.
 While districts are being forced to make cuts in other areas of
education, homeless transportation must continue to be
provided.
 The ONLY WAY to continue to provide this is for schools and
the community to COLLABORATE & COORDINATE!
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Strategies for Implementation
 Coordinate with local housing authorities and
community-based organizations to house students near
their schools of origin.
 Re-route school buses (including special education,
magnet school, and other buses).
 Ensure that school buses travel to shelters, transitional
living projects, and motels where homeless students
reside.
 Provide sensitivity training to bus drivers and arrange bus
stops to keep students’ living situations confidential.
Transportation Brief, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children
and Youth, 2006
June 26, 2012
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Strategies for Implementation - 2
 Develop close ties among LEA homeless liaisons, school
staff, and pupil transportation staff.
 Designate a district-level point of contact to arrange and
coordinate transportation.
 Provide passes for public transportation, including passes
for caregivers when necessary.
 Collaborate with local public agencies and service
providers to develop transportation plans or provide
transportation.
Transportation Brief, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children
and Youth, 2006
June 26, 2012
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Strategies for Implementation - 3
 Take advantage of transportation systems used by public
assistance agencies.
 Coordinate with public assistance agencies, whose clients
cannot work unless their children are in school.
 Reimburse parents, guardians, or unaccompanied youth
for gas.
 Obtain corporate or other sponsorship for transportation
costs.
Transportation Brief, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children
and Youth, 2006
June 26, 2012
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SUCCESSFUL
Urban and Rural
Transportation Strategies
used in Michigan Districts
June 26, 2012
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Questions?
June 26, 2012
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Why we do what we do…
“…Through it all, school is probably the only thing that
has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in
those doors, I can stop thinking about my problems
for the next six hours and concentrate on what is most
important to me. Without the support of my school
system, I would not be as well off as I am today. School
keeps me motivated to move on, and encourages me to
find a better life for myself.”
Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002
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RESOURCES TO RELY ON

MDE Homeless Education Web Page - www.michigan.gov/homeless

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
(NAEHCY)

Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness

HPRP - Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program

Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH)

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP)

National Runaway Switchboard
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Contact Information
Homeless Education Program Office
517-241-1162
www.michigan.gov/homeless
Use our Interactive Map to get contact information for
M-V Grant Coordinators for every county in Michigan!
State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Pam Kies-Lowe
kies-lowep@michigan.gov
June 26, 2012
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