SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT Presented - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HOMELESSNESS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY: SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT Presented by: Jennifer Watley, MSW District Homeless Education Liaison Foster Care Point of Contact Volusia County Schools

Increase awareness about students who are homeless and Increase in foster care Explain federal law and school requirements as it relates to Explain PURPOSE OF them TRAINING Promote an understanding of barriers that these students Promote experience Provide information on how we support educational stability for Provide these children and youth

Students lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence EVERY TWO MINUTES A CHILD BECOMES HOMELESS IN AMERICA HOMELESS DEFINITION

NUMBER OF STUDENTS REPORTED HOMELESS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS 2005 - 2017

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH NUMBERS VERSUS IDENTIFIED HOMELESS STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOLS JAN 2018 High School Identified Homeless 5%FRL Actual FRL #’s Atlantic 24 39 794 Deland 46 76 1533 Deltona 40 70 1238 Mainland 46 71 1426 New Smyrna 19 52 1044 Pine Ridge 48 63 1264 Sea Breeze 10 33 670 Spruce Creek 60 54 1081 Taylor High 22 46 937 University 90 87 1743

5% FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH NUMBERS VERSUS IDENTIFIED HOMELESS NUMBERS IN HIGH SCHOOLS 5% Free and reduced Lunch Numbers versus Identified Homeless in High Schools 100 90 87 90 80 76 71 70 70 63 60 60 54 52 48 50 46 46 46 40 39 40 33 30 24 22 19 20 10 10 0 Atlantic Deland Deltona Mainland New Smyrna Pine Ridge Sea Breeze Spruce Creek Taylor High University Identified Homeless 5%FRL

Reports shared that According to In 2015/16 this population is reports from Miami particularly this report, Homes for All vulnerable to few counties indicated that victimization and in Florida approximately one exploitation, and in ten homeless are at an offer shelters students state wide increased risk for that can were an developing both accommodate unaccompanied physical and HUY. youth (HUY) mental health complications. HOMELESS UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH (HUY)

Blue Lake Elementary (DeLand)) Head Start operates 17 Centers in Volusia County and currently Deltona Lake serves 977 children. Elementary Of these 17 Head Woodward Start sites, 5-blended HEAD START Elementary sites have been established at (DeLand) PARTNERSHIP Head Start Indian River employs the use of Elementary a homeless (Edgewater) questionnaire to help with Horizon identification of homeless students. Elementary The presently have (Port Orange) 16 students Identified.

Families that are homeless tend to hide their situation. We may often see the changes below before a parent lets us know what is happening. They need to be assured the school will support their child. Administrators need to ensure their staff is trained. Students may be homeless if you see any of the following: SIGNS OF HOMELESSNESS IN SCHOOLS • Lack of clean clothes and school supplies • Fatigue from crowded sleeping arrangements or moving around • Chronic hunger or hoarding of food • Chronic health problems • Sudden increase in, or frequent absences or tardiness may mean a family has lost their housing and moved out of zone

1 2 3 Enroll in school Enroll and attend Remain in the without having a school while school attended permanent arranging for before becoming address required school homeless (called records or school of origin) documents RIGHTS OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH

RIGHTS OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH ▪ Attend school and participate in school programs with students who are not homeless ▪ Receive special programs and services for which they are eligible ▪ Receive assistance with transportation to school

IDEA B&C Contain specific obligations to serve children and youth with disabilities who are homeless as part of IDEA’s “Child Find” Part B mandates that DISABILITIES, states implement the • McKinney McKinney-Vento Act Vento and provide a Free HOMELESSNESS requires a Appropriate parallel Education (FAPE) for AND obligation students with to provide disabilities who are FAPE EDUCATIONAL homeless. Part C requires states CHALLENGES to Provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities who are homeless. IDEA ensures FAPE in the least restrictive environment (LRE)

In the 2015/16 Over 5,000 74% were school year, 72,601 homeless children doubled up with students in Florida and youth with were identified as family or friends disabilities (IDEA ) homeless. More than one in More than 1,000 11% were living in ten were Homeless students were living motels, and 10% in Unaccompanied in cars, parks, or shelters Youth (HUY) tents. HOMELESSNESS AND EDUCATION IN FLORIDA

Students who Mobility also hurts switch schools SCHOOL non-mobile frequently score students lower on standardized tests STABILITY IS CRITICAL TO Students suffer It takes children 4- psychologically, EDUCATIONAL 6 months to socially, and recover academically from SUCCESS academically high mobility and after changing are less likely to schools participate in school activities

Less likely to Absenteeism was Homeless students demonstrate more common among were more likely to proficiency in students identified as be subject to academic subjects homeless. disciplinary action. based on FSA scores 9% were habitually 16% of homeless truant (15 unexcused students were absences within a 90- suspended at least day period) once. BARRIERS TO LEARNING FDOE DATA: ATTENDANCE, ACADEMIC, AND DISCIPLINARY INDICATORS

FOCUS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS ▪ Attendance ▪ Transportation ▪ Academic Achievement ▪ School Stability ▪ Services ▪ Community Linkages

01 02 03 04 05 Gives Focuses on Requires ESSA Took Effect Changed Law children and school collaboration December as it relates youth in enrollment & with child 10, 2016 to Homeless foster care stability welfare and Foster many of the agencies Care same rights FOSTER CARE MIRRORS RIGHTS OF HOMELESS

REFERENCES Sections 1001.41; Florida Statutes Laws Implemented: Section 1003.01 (12), 1003.21 (1)(f); Florida Statutes McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act VCS Student/Pupil Policy Number 209 (adopted and effective July 28, 2009) University of Florida; Shimberg Center for Housing Studies & Miami Homes for All. Homelessness and Education in Florida: Impacts on Children and Youth. Executive Summary 2015/16. www.shimberg.ufl.edu & www.miamihomesforall.org Skip Forsyth, Florida Council on Homelessness (2016) Every Student Succeeds Act: A Primer. Cynthia Ritchie, MPA, Mid Florida Community Services Head Start www.mfcs.us.com Homeless and Special Education Administrative Collaboration: October 2008, Project Forum at NASDSE. School House Connection; March 15, 2017: The Well-being of Young Children after Experiencing Homelessness: www.schoolhouseconnection.org/the-well-being-of-young-children-after- experiencing-homelessness/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Jennifer Watley, MSW District Homeless Education Liaison Foster Care Point of Contact jmwatley@volusia.k12.fl.us (386) 734-7190 ext. 20857