Local Homeless Education Liaison Toolkit Revised September 2007 Homeless Coordinator Training

Local Homeless Education Liaison

Toolkit

Revised September 2007

Homeless Coordinator Training

State of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

State Homeless CoordinatorKim Oligschlaeger

[email protected]

Phone: 573-522-8763 or 573-526-3232Fax: 573-526-6698

DESE’s Website:http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/discretionarygrants/homeless/index.html

Table of Contents

ChaptersAppendices

Tables

Chapter One: Overview

Chapter One: Overview

• Purpose of the toolkit is to provide LEAs with background information and sample resources to serve homeless children and youth.

• Toolkit provides:• Guidance in identifying common barriers to educational

access and success and creating solutions to address them.

• Sample tools to develop collaborative efforts, build awareness, and meet the educational needs of homeless students.

• Supplemental resources for further study and support.

Chapter Two: Homeless Education and the Law

Brief History of the McKinney-Vento Act

• 1987 – Stewart B. McKinney Act signed into law• 1990 – McKinney Act amended• 1994 – Education portion of McKinney Act

included in Improving America’s School Act (IASA)• 2001-2002 – Reauthorization as the McKinney-

Vento Act

Legal Responsibilities of LEAs

Table 1: LEA Responsibilities and Activities1. Ensure access to school and appropriate services2. Reduce school transfers and enhance educational

stability and continuity3. Strengthen parental choice and involvement4. Ensure educational rights of unaccompanied youth5. Ensure access to public preschool programs for young

homeless children

Impact of Other Educational Legislation

• Head Start• IDEA• Title I, Part A• The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act

of 2004

Definitions

The term enroll and enrollment include attendingclasses and participating fully in school activities.

Defining Homelessness

• Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes children and youth who are:• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of

housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.• 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.


• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

• Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in the circumstances described above.


• Unaccompanied youth who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above. The term “unaccompanied youth” includes a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.


• Consider the permanence of the living arrangement

• Case-by-case basis• United States Constitution, Article VI, known as

the Supremacy Clause, which states that federal law supersedes state law when conflicts arise

Chapter Three: Local Liaison Roles and Responsibilities

Identifying Homeless Children and Youth

• Homelessness can be “invisible”.• Post educational rights of homeless children in

areas throughout the community and school district.

• Disseminate brochures or a flyer on the educational rights of homeless children and youth.

• Train staff on the definition of McKinney-Vento.

Identifying Homeless Children and Youth

• Note same addresses of more than one family• Familiarize yourself with hotel/motel addresses• Avoid using the word “homeless”• Enrollment form questions• Assist families who may be homeless

Immediate Enrollment

• McKinney-Vento requires school to immediately enroll students experiencing homelessness even when they lack:• Proof of residency• Guardianship• Birth certificates, school records, or other documents• Medical records, including immunization records

• MOFAQ• If unable to obtain prior immunization records within 30 days,

begin the immunization series and demonstrate satisfactory progress has been accomplished within 90 days.

• Required dress code items, including uniforms

Enrollment, Residency, & Unaccompanied Youth

• Review and revise legislation, policies, and procedures.

• McKinney-Vento Act requires enrolling school to contact the last school attended to obtain student records.

• Immediately enroll unaccompanied youth.

Enrollment

• Contact information is the only information that can be required/requested.

School of Best Interest

• Once a child has been identified as homeless, residency requirements do not apply:

The school of originSchool that the child or youth attended when

permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled.

The school of residenceCurrent physical dwelling where homeless child is

sleeping.• If the school of origin/best interest and the school of

residence are in different districts, the homeless coordinators of the two districts should work together to facilitate the placement.

Transportation

• If a student becomes homeless during the school year and temporarily resides in a different attendance area, the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth and the district Homeless Coordinator should decide whether or not it is in the student’s best interest to remain at the school of origin.

• The homeless child may remain in the school of origin for the remainder of the academic year.

• School where the homeless child is sleeping (school of residence) and the school district where the child is attending (school of origin) need to work together to arrange transportation.

• Must equally split the cost of transportation.• Reimbursement for transportation expenses is available to

public school districts when the district is not already receiving a homeless grant from DESE.

Local Liaison Roles and Responsibilities

• Table 2. Potential Enrollment Barriers and Possible Solutions

• Dispute Resolution• Educational Services• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Local Programs

Missouri’s Dispute Resolution Process as it Applies to Homeless Children and Youth

I. School District Level -- Every effort must be made to resolve the complaint or dispute at the school district level before it is brought to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It is the responsibility of the school district (the district) to inform the complainant of the district’s Complaint Resolution Procedure when a question concerning the education of a homeless child or youth arises.

A. Notify the district’s homeless coordinator. The homeless coordinator serves as a liaison between the homeless child and the school the child attends. Someone in the school or in the superintendent’s office will be able to identify the homeless coordinator. 1. Request a copy of or access to the district board of education policies addressing the education of homeless children and youths and review them. Make an appointment with the homeless coordinator to discuss the complaint.2. If the dispute is not resolved after the initial discussion with the

district’s homeless coordinator, the complainant can file a complaint in writing to the district’s homeless coordinator for further review. 3. In the complaint include a request that a written proposed resolution of the dispute or a plan of action be provided within five (5) days* of the date the complaint was received by the district’s homeless coordinator. A review of the proposal or plan of action with the homeless coordinator should follow.

B. If the dispute is not resolved at the homeless coordinator level, the complaint may be forwarded to the superintendent of the district for review followed by a meeting with the superintendent to discuss the dispute. The complainant should request from the superintendent a written resolution within five (5) days* of the date of the discussion.

C. If the dispute is not resolved at the superintendent level, the complainant may take the matter before the school district board of education for resolution.

II. State Level -- If the dispute is not resolved in a satisfactory manner at the school district level, the complaint may be brought to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Complaints made under this process must be made in writing and signed by the complainant. The following steps are to be taken:A. Address the complaint to the State Homeless Coordinator, Federal Discretionary Grants, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.

B. Include in the complaint:1. a detailed description of the dispute2. the name(s) and age(s) of the children involved3. the name(s) of involved school district personnel and the district(s)

they represent4. a description of attempts that were made to resolve the issue at the

school district level


C. The Director of Federal Discretionary Grants (the director) will inform the involved school district(s) of the complaint. The director or the director’s designee will gather needed information including documentation and statements of the parties and may conduct an independent investigation through an on-site visit if necessary.

D. Within thirty (30) days* after receiving a complaint, the director will resolve the complaint and will inform the parties, in writing, of the decision.

E. If a complainant disagrees with the director’s decision, the complainant may, within ten (10) working days, appeal the decision to the Deputy Commissioner of Education. This appeal must be in writing and state why the complainant disagrees with the decision.

F. Within (thirty) 30 days** after receiving the appeal, the Deputy Commissioner of Education will render a final administrative decision and notify the complainant and all other interested parties in writing.

G. While the dispute is ongoing, the child(ren) in question must be enrolled in school. If the dispute revolves around which school is the school of best interest for the child, the child shall remain in the school they currently attend until the dispute is resolved, unless arrangements already implemented allow the child to attend the school of origin.

* The parties may mutually agree on an extension; however every effort should be made to resolve the complaint in the shortest possible time.

** Although the standard procedure allows thirty (30) days for a response, every effort will be made to resolve the complaint in the shortest possible time.


LEA Responsibilities (Homeless Coordinator) a Local Liaison May Fulfill

• Table 3. Responsibilities for Local Homeless Education Liaisons• Policies and Procedures• Enrollment and access to educational services• Outreach• Unaccompanied Youth• Suggested activities to ensure district-wide compliance

Legally Required

LEA Liaison (Homeless Coordinator) Responsibilities

• Assist with immediate enrollment• Make school placement decisions• Handle enrollment disputes• Prohibit the segregation of homeless children and youth • Provide/arrange transportation & inform of transportation

services• Inform about educational opportunities available• Disseminate public notice of rights

School’s Homeless Coordinator

• Each district in Missouri has a homeless coordinator Screen 03 of Core Data

• Must be board approved for MSIP purposes• Once a student has been identified, or there is

cause to believe that a student is homeless, they should be referred to your district’s homeless coordinator for a decision to be made on their homeless status.

Chapter Four: Strategies for Meeting the Educational Needs of Homeless Children and Youth

McKinney-Vento Act

• Eliminate Enrollment Barriers• School District Procedures• Needs Assessment to be Conducted • Identify Community Contacts• Provide Outreach to Schools and the Community

Review, Revise, and Develop Local Policies and Procedures

• Enrollment Identification • Needs Assessment • Placement • Services • Records Transfer• Homeless Coordinator • Resolution of Grievances

All are required.Applies to all districts, whether or not homeless

students are identified.

Collaborate with Other School District Programs

• Other district homeless coordinators are a resource

• Have a back up homeless coordinator in the district

What can you do?

• Ensure access to other educational programs• Table 4: Ensuring Access to Other Educational Programs

• What can school personnel do?• What can classroom teachers do?• What can parents do?

Chapter Five: Developing Collaborative Efforts

Collaboration

• Identify Potential Partners• Levels of Collaborative Efforts• Initiating the Collaboration• Developing the Collaboration• Working with Other Departments in Your School

District• Special Education• Title I, Part A

Title I & Homeless Set Aside

• Method #1• Reserve the set aside amount on what you would be

eligible for if you were applying for a McKinney-Vento subgrant.

• Method #2• Reserve the set aside amount based on a percentage.

• Method #3• Reserve the set aside amount based on your homeless

student count and Title I, Part A per-pupil allocation.

• Method #4• Reserve the set aside amount based on homeless

student’s needs.

Title I funds may not be used to transport homeless children and

youth.

Use Of Title I Funds

• Before-school, after-school, and/or summer programs• Outreach services to students living in shelters, motels, and

other temporary residences to help identify homeless children and youth and advise them of available school programming

• Basic needs such as clothing, uniforms, school supplies, and health-related needs

• Counseling services• The hiring of teachers, aides, and tutors to provide supplemental

instruction to students whose achievement is below grade level• The work of the local liaison• Parental involvement programs that make a special effort to

reach out to parents in homeless situations• Research-based programs that benefit highly mobile students• Data collection to assess the needs and progress of homeless

and other highly mobile students

Chapter Six: Getting the Message Out

Vehicles for Communication

• Distribute posters & brochures on homelessness to all staff members

• Develop a website• Communicate via e-mail• In-service on homelessness• School districts’ cable television channels• School bulletins• Contact community members

Chapter Seven: Research and Resources

Research and Resources

• Other Homeless Coordinators• http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/discretionarygrants

/homeless/HomelessCoordinators.pdf• State Homeless Coordinator

• Kim Oligschlaeger e-mail [email protected] 573-522-8763 and fax 573-526-6698

• MODESE’s Homeless Webpage• http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/discretionarygrants/ho

meless/index.html• National Center for Homeless Education

• http://www.serve.org/nche/products.php• National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty

• http://www.nlchp.org/• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children

and Youth• http://www.naehcy.org/

Appendices

Appendix A: The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Legislation

SEC. 721. STATEMENT OF POLICY.The following is the policy of the Congress:(1) Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless

individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.

(2) In any State that has a compulsory residency requirement as a component of the State's compulsory school attendance laws or other laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youths, the State will review and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.

(3) Homelessness alone is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.

(4) Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held.


• Page 4 of 17 reviews LEA Requirements for the State to be eligible to receive funds• Implement a coordinated system for ensuring that

homeless children and youths—• are advised of the choice of schools• immediately enrolled• promptly provided necessary services • document that written notice has been provided• no separate schools for homeless• identify and remove any barriers that exist in school

• Page 6 of 17 reviews the state plan:• Identification procedures• Prompt resolution of disputes• Awareness of school personnel• Participate in federal, state, or local food programs• Enrollment delay programs • Equal access• Address problems• Address enrollment delays

• immunization and medical records• residency requirements• Lack of birth certificates, school records, or other documentation• guardianship issues• Uniform or dress code items


• Review and revise policies to remove barriers• Assurances

• SEA and LEA will adopt policies and practices to ensure homeless children are not stigmatized or segregated

• Homeless Coordinator board-adopted• Transportation is provided/arranged to and from school

of origin• MO State’s Plan says districts must equally split the cost

of transporting homeless children and youth

• State will ensure LEAs comply & technical assistance will be provided



• State Plan LEA Requirements page 8 of 17• Continue the child’s or youth’s education in the school of

origin for the duration of homelessness• In any case in which a family becomes homeless between

academic years or during an academic year; or• for the remainder of the academic year, if the child or

youth becomes permanently housed during an academic year; or

• enroll the child or youth in any public school in the attendance area in which the child or youth is actually living and is eligible to attend.


• State Plan LEA Requirements page 8 of 17 Best Interest• to the extent feasible, keep a homeless child or youth in

the school of origin, except when doing so is contrary to the wishes of the child’s or youth’s parent or guardian.

• provide a written explanation, including a statement regarding the right to appeal, to the parent or guardian if you send them to a school other than the school requested by parent (origin or residence)

• assist unaccompanied youth


• State Plan LEA Requirements page 9• Enrollment• Records• Enrollment Disputes• Placement Choice• School of Origin defined page 10• Contact Information page 10

• Comparable Services page 10• Coordination page 10• Local Educational Agency Liaison page 10


State Plan LEA Requirements page 16• Definitions of

• Enroll & Enrollment• Homeless Definition• LEA and SEA

U.S. Department of Education July 2004 Non-Regulatory Guidance Highlights

A. IntroductionB. Federal Awards to StatesC. State Uses of fundsD. Office of the CoordinatorE. Prohibition Against SegregationF. Local Liaisons


G. School Placement, Enrollment, and Eligibility for Services• G-4. extent feasible• G-8. immediate enrollment• G-10. awaiting foster care

H. Transportation• H-1. providing transportation• H-3. Title I, Part A no transportation• H-5. providing transportation during enrollment

disputes• do not provide transportation to non-homeless

students, is it required to transport homeless students• H-8. transporting to preschool


I. Comparable and Coordinated ServicesJ. Homeless Unaccompanied YouthK. Subgrants to LEAsL. Local Uses of FundsM. Coordination with Title I, Part A of the ESEA

• M-1. homeless eligibility• M-2. homeless then permanently housed; are they still

eligible for Title I, Part A services• M-3. homeless attending non-Title I schools eligible for

services?• M-4. services under Section 1113(c)(3) of Title I

N. Education for Homeless Children and Youth Contact information


Appendix A: DefinitionsAppendix B: Related Education LawsAppendix C: Draft Standards and Indicators of QualityAppendix D: Sample Student Residency QuestionnaireAppendix E: Dispute Resolution Process School Sample FormAppendix F: Dispute Resolution Process School District

Sample FormAppendix G: References

Appendix B: Related Legislation

Related Legislation

• Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004: Legislative excerpts and related U.S. Department of Agriculture memoranda

• Head Start Act: Excerpt from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Memorandum No. ACF-IM-92-12

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): NCHE IDEA issue brief with legislative references and excerpts

• Runaway and Homeless Youth Act: Family and Youth Service Bureau Information Memorandum No. 1-2006

• Title I, Part A, of the No child Left Behind Act: Legislative excerpts

Appendix C: Awareness Materials

Awareness Materials

• Common Signs of Homelessness Flyer• NCHE educational rights poster, for parents

(8 ½ x 11, black and white)• NCHE educational rights poster, for youth

(8 ½ x 11, black and white)• NCHE Homeless Education Awareness Flyer

Appendix D: Enrollment Tools

Enrollment Tools

• Sample Forms• Student Residency Form• Determining Feasibility of School Placement• Sample Affidavit for Missing Enrollment Documentation• Caregiver Authorization Form• Written Notification of Enrollment Decision

Student Residency Form

• Where does the student stay at night?• In a shelter• In a motel/hotel• In a car• At a campsite• In another location that is not appropriate for people

(e.g., an abandoned building)• Temporarily with more than one family in a house,

mobile home, or apartment (because the family does not have a place of its own)

• Other (in an arrangement that is not fixed, regular, and adequate and is not described by the other choices)

• Include a space for them to explain.

Determining Feasibility of School Placement Form

• Introduction to Determining Feasibility of School Placement• Immediate enrollment• Who to consult in determining school of best interest• Disputes arise

• Form to help make that determination• Sample Affidavit for Missing Enrollment

Documentation• Caregiver Authorization Form• Written Notification of Enrollment Decision

Appendix E: Assessment and Data Collection Tools

Assessment and Data Collection Tools

• Excerpt: McKinney-Vento Data Standards and Indicators – 2006 Revision

• Sample Needs Assessment: Basic School/Community Checklist• Needed for MSIP

Appendix F: Sample LEA Homeless Education Policy

Sample LEA Homeless Education Policy

• Introduction• Definitions• Identification• School Selection• Enrollment• Transportation• Services

• Disputes• Free Meals• Title I, Part A• Training• Coordination• Preschool• References

Appendices G, H, and I

Appendices G, H, & I

• Appendix G: School Level Point of Contact Form• School-Level Point of Contact Form• Involved in student enrollment• A person in each building is important

• Appendix H: Collaboration Resources• Summary: Collaborations of Schools and Social Service

Agencies• Collaboration Action Plan• Useful Contacts Form

• Appendix I: Transportation Resources• Executive Summary: Increasing School Stability for Students

Experiencing Homelessness: Overcoming Challenges to Providing Transportation to the School of Origin

Appendix J: Homeless Education Issue Briefs

Homeless Education Issue Briefs

• List of those available• http://

www.serve.org/nche/products_list.php#liaison_toolkit• http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/discretionarygra

nts/homeless/index.html

• Homeless Education: An Introduction to the Issues

• These are discussed at quarterly meetings

Appendix K: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

• Enrolling homeless children and youth who do not have proof of immunizations or physicals, previous school records, have not paid for fees

• Can not require proof of residency• Guardianship is not available• Staying in same school building• Services to provide• Title I, Part A funds & services• Preschool• Special Education• Issues that affect homeless children and youth

Appendices L, M, N, O, P, and Q

Appendices L-Q

• Appendix L: Tip Sheets• Appendix M: Homeless Education Webpage

Development• Appendix N: Training Resources• Appendix O: Research and Information on

Homeless Education• Appendix P: National Partners in Homeless

Education• Appendix Q: Resources and Services Available

Through NCHE

Time to go home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

State of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

State Homeless CoordinatorKim Oligschlaeger

[email protected]

Phone: 573-522-8763 or 573-526-3232Fax: 573-526-6698

DESE’s Website:http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/discretionarygrants/homeless/index.html

Documents

Local Homeless Education Liaison Toolkit Revised September 2007 Homeless Coordinator Training