1. McKinney-Vento Act: Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Information on Enrollment of Homeless Students Rocklin Unified School District Homeless Liaison – Amanda Makis 916-630-3318 [email_address]
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. • Reduce school entry stress. • Promote academic success through encouraging words and actions that recognize the gains made. • Use tutoring and after-school programs to provide academic support. • Increase access to services and activities. Working With Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
16.
17. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of homelessness…and, all of the previous information also applies to children in formal and informal foster care placements. Please notify the liaison regarding all foster children in your school.
18.
Editor's Notes
Aside from it being in the best interest of the child, as a school district, we have a legal responsibility to enroll all children residing in our district as homeless students, in addition all children that become homeless while living in our district. Generally speaking, assuming that it is in the best interest of the child, the parent can choose to attend the school of origin in this district, or the school of temporary residence.
The descriptions listed here include new items found in the 2001 McKinney-Vento Act reauthorization. Some people may not be familiar with the term doubled-up. Be sure to explain this term when describing shared housing. Doubled-up is the sharing of housing with other families or individuals due to a loss of housing (not due to cultural preference or a desire to save money). Not all persons living in the situations described would be considered homeless. Two major factors to consider when making a determination are the adequacy and permanence of the housing. Notes: The designation children and youth refers to individuals age 21 and younger. Migratory children who are living in the situations described above also may qualify as homeless.
The LEA could share what alternatives are available such as: • No proof of residency—an affidavit could be signed stating that one is currently homeless, doubled-up, or staying at other temporary accommodations. • No previous school records—the school can call/fax the previous school and request the records. • No immunization records—the school can enroll the student and provide the parent/guardian with information as to where the public ealth office is located to get the needed immunizations.
School of origin—the school the student attended before becoming homeless or where the student was last enrolled. During the chaotic time students are experiencing, having a stable school environment can give students a place to count on with people who know them. Unaccompanied youth—student who, for whatever reason, does not live with a parent/guardian.
Attendance is an obvious prerequisite to school success. Ensuring that students can get to school via safe and reliable transportation is critical. The McKinney-Vento Act requires state and local educational agencies to adopt policies and practices to ensure transportation is provided, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison) to and from the school of origin if 1) within the same LEA, the LEA shall provide or arrange transportation, and 2) the LEA that remains the school of origin and the LEA in which the student now resides agree on a method to apportion responsibility and costs for providing transportation to the school of origin. If an agreement cannot be reached, the LEAs must share the cost and responsibility equally. The proceedings of the NCHE 2000 Transportation Symposium may provide some creative options for implementation of this requirement.
The McKinney-Vento Act requires that: * Homeless students receive services comparable to those available to housed students. * High school or GED completion be promoted. * Liaisons collaborate with social service agencies and school districts serving students. * Parents be fully informed of the enrollment options and educational opportunities available to their children and be involved in decision making regarding enrollment options. Schools/districts provide written explanations of decisions when disputes occur. * Separate schools or programs for students experiencing homelessness be prohibited.
![McKinney-Vento Act: Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Information on Enrollment of Homeless Students Rocklin Unified School District Homeless Liaison – Amanda Makis 916-630-3318 [email_address]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/homelessinformationpresentation-100713160937-phpapp01/85/Homeless-Information-Presentation-1-320.jpg)
![The Scale of Homelessness Source: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. (1990). Out of sight–Out of mind? A report on anti-homeless laws, litigations, and alternatives in 50 United States. Washington, DC: Author. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)