1 The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act Effective Education
Regarding Homeless Children and Youth in Tennessee Shelby County
Schools Slide 2 What Is the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act?
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act was created to address
the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in
enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this program,
State Educational Agencies (SEA) must ensure that each homeless
child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate
public education. 2 Slide 3 EXTRA: Finding Strength While Homeless
3 Slide 4 A Brief History Regarding the McKinney- Vento Act 1987
The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is signed into law,
requiring states to review and revise residency requirements for
the enrollment of homeless children and youth. 1990 The McKinney
Act is amended, requiring states to eliminate all enrollment
barriers, and provide school access and support for academic
success for students experiencing homelessness; McKinney funds may
now be used to provide direct educational services for eligible
students. 1994 The education portion of the McKinney Act is
included in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA),
adding preschool services, greater parental input, and emphasis on
interagency collaboration. 2002 The Act is reauthorized as the
McKinney-Vento Act (Title X, Part C of ESEA), strengthening
legislative requirements and requiring all school districts to
appoint a local liaison to ensure the law is implemented
effectively at the local level. 4 Slide 5 5 The McKinney-Vento
Homeless Education Assistance Act Requirements include educational
access, stability, and success for homeless children and youth.
Responsibilities are outlined for local liaisons and state
coordinators. Slide 6 6 What Is the Definition of a Homeless
Student? The McKinney-Vento Act defines Homeless Students as
individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence. Slide 7 7 The term also includes children and youth who
are: Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing,
economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as
doubled-up) Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping
grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations Living
in emergency or transitional shelters Abandoned in hospitals
Awaiting foster care placement What Is the Definition of a Homeless
Student? Slide 8 Fixed Residence Definition Securely placed or
fastened not subject to change or fluctuation distinguished from an
occasional lodger or visitor A fixed residence is one that is
stationary, permanent, and not subject to change. 8 Slide 9 9
Unaccompanied Youth Definition Homeless unaccompanied youth often
face unique barriers in enrolling and succeeding in school. An
unaccompanied youth is an individual who is not in the physical
custody of a parent or guardian and who meets the criteria for
homelessness. Slide 10 Identifying Homeless Children and Youth:
Best Practices Homeless children and youth are difficult to
identify for many reasons, and thus often go unnoticed by school
personnel. In order to identify homeless children both in and out
of school, the district can coordinate with community service
agencies. Note: Avoid using the word homeless in initial contact
with school personnel, families, or youth. For many people, the
word homeless conjures up stereotypical images. 10 Slide 11 11
Slide 12 Two ways to identify displaced students: 1. School
identification 2. Information provided by parent or guardian 12
Identifying Homeless Children and Youth: Best Practices Slide 13
Common Signals of Displacement 1. Lack of continuity in education
2. Poor health/nutrition 3. Transportation and attendance problems
4. Poor hygiene 5. Lack of privacy/personal space after school 6.
Social and behavioral concerns 7. Reaction/statement by parents,
guardian, or child 13 Slide 14 After Identifying the Student
Immediate school enrollment is required. If a dispute arises over
school selection or placement, the district must admit a displaced
child or youth to the school in which enrollment is sought by the
parent, pending resolution of the dispute. 14 Slide 15 Rights of
Eligible Children and Youth The right to remain in the school of
origin The right to receive transportation to the school of origin
The right for academic success The right to immediate enrollment in
school, even if lacking documentation normally required for
enrollment Kinds of documentation that may be lacking: Birth
certificate Immunization records Previous academics Proof of
guardianship or residency 15 Slide 16 Immunization If immunizations
or immunization medical records are missing, the liaison must
assist in obtaining them, and the student must be enrolled in the
interim. Potential health risks are minimal. Only students lacking
immunizations are potentially at risk. With the exception of
kindergarteners, all homeless students have been in school
somewhere and thus probably have had immunizations despite their
current lack of records. 16 Slide 17 Points To Ponder and Question
When is doubled up not homeless? Why did the family move in
together? Was the move-in because of crisis or by mutual choice? Is
the living arrangement meant to be permanent? Where would the
family live if not doubling up? Is the living situation fixed,
regular, and adequate? If there is a dispute, a referral will be
made to Student Services. 17 Slide 18 Schools are responsible for
enrolling displaced children and youth. A school selected on the
basis of a best interest determination must immediately enroll the
child, even if the child is unable to produce the records normally
required for enrollment. Those records consist of: Previous
academic records Medical records Proof of residency Birth
certificates 18 Our Responsibility Slide 19 If a child needs to
obtain immunizations or medical/immunization records, the enrolling
school must immediately refer the parent or guardian to the
districts Federal Programs office, which will guide and assist in
obtaining the immunizations or records. 19 Slide 20 How Do We Get
It Right Regarding Identification and Enrollment? StepResponsible
1. Identify the student and enroll the student in PowerSchool.
School 2. Confirm Federal Programs awareness of the identified
student. School and/or Federal Programs 3. Determine eligibility of
the identified student (see Affidavit). Federal Programs 4. Deliver
services to the eligible student. Federal Programs 5. In cases of
eligibility dispute, refer the case to Student Services.
Parent/guardian and/or School 6. In cases of eligibility dispute,
finalize eligibility determination. Student Services 20 Slide 21 21
Slide 22 For More Information National Center for Homeless
Education (NCHE) http://center.serve.org/nche/ 800-308-2145 /
[email protected]@serve.org National Association for the
Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)
http://www.naehcy.org National Law Center on Homelessness and
Poverty (NLCHP) http://www.nlchp.org 22 Slide 23 State Contact
Information Paula Gaddis Migrant, Homeless & Private Schools
Project Director Tennessee Department of Education
[email protected] 615-751-3262
http://www.tn.gov/education/fedprog/fphomeless.shtml 23 Slide 24
Contact Information for Federal Programs, Grants & Compliance
3782 Jackson Ave Memphis, TN 38108 LOC 8097 Manager of Grants &
Special Populations Theresa Utley
[email protected]@scsk12.org Federal Program Specialists
Kevin Potts [email protected] / [email protected]
Clarence Bayes [email protected] / [email protected] 24
Slide 25 Questions/Comments 25
