PRESENTED BY: JENNIFER WATLEY, LCSW McKinney- VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS DISTRICT HOMELESS LIAISON & Vento FOSTER CARE POINT OF CONTACT Homeless 386-734-7190 EXT. 20856 Education
Purpose of training TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS
Who is eligible for McKinney-Vento school benefits? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2jUCXwRNFc&t=8s
Definition of Unaccompanied Youth YOUTH RUN AWAY DUE TO ABUSE OR NEGLECT. ▪ PARENTS FORCE YOUTH OUT OF THE HOME DUE TO ▪ CONFLICTS. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HOMELESSNESS FORCE FAMILIES ▪ APART.
What is the legal responsibility of the school district to inform parents of the enrollment of an unaccompanied youth under age 18? A school district has no legal responsibility to inform parents of the enrollment of an unaccompanied youth under 18.
Financial Aide for College UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH CAN • COMPLETE THE FAFSA WITHOUT PARENTAL SIGNATURE OR INCOME INFORMATION. • THEY NEED VERIFICATION THAT THEY ARE UNACCOMPANIED AND HOMELESS FROM A LIAISON, SHELTER PROVIDER, OR FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATOR.
Fixed residence: one that is Regular residence: one which is Adequate residence: one that is sufficient for meeting both the stationary, permanent, and not used on a regular (e.g., nightly) physical and psychological needs subject to change . basis . typically met in home environments. REGULAR, FIXED, ADEQUATE
ENROLLMENT MCKINNEY-VENTO STUDENTS ARE ENTITLED Students do not have required TO IMMEDIATE documents, such as school records, ENROLLMENT IN ANY immunizations, health records, proof of PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT residency, guardianship etc. STUDENTS LIVING IN THE SAME ATTENDANCE AREA ARE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND, EVEN IF…
ENROLLMENT RIGHTS Homeless students have a right to either remain in their school of origin or attend school in the zone where they are temporarily staying. Free and reduced lunch Students who choose to remain in their school of origin have the right to remain there until the end of the school year in which they obtain permanent housing;
Number of students reported as Homeless in VCS 3000 Number of Students 2680 2500 2322 2274 2261 2228 2195 2171 2016 1990 1975 1889 1884 2000 1677 1500 1125 1000 500 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Jul-05 Year
April 16, 2019 total= 2611 (5.7%of Current total students receiving FRL) number of students April 16, 2019 point-in-time = 2100 identified as homeless Unaccompanied homeless youth = 195
Homeless student Enrollment
Transportation Federal and State Law: If the homeless student continues to live in an area served by the district in which the school of origin is located, that district must provide or arrange transportation. Long Distances: If the homeless student moves to an area served by another district, but continuing his or her education at the school of origin, the district of origin and the district in which the student resides must agree upon a method to apportion responsibility and costs for transportation to the school of origin; (Best interest must be considered)
Best Interest Determination Presume that keeping the student in the school of origin is in the student’s best interest. 11432(g)(3)(B)( i)-(ii) Unless contrary to the request of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth. Consider student-centered factors, including the impact of mobility on achievement, education, health, & safety. For preschool children, consider attachment to teachers; availability and quality of services in the new area; and travel time. Give priority to the request of an unaccompanied youth. Give priority to the request of the parent/guardian.
Fun Facts VOLUSIA HEP can also assist Online Shopping with … Shoes and socks VOTRAN passes Underwear and bras Gas cards Food (Grocery and fast Pajamas food) Hygiene supplies (men Walmart and women) Community resources Uniform appropriate bottoms (variety of sizes) School related fees that promote full inclusion. Books (young adult fiction) * all items are provided through Inventory Log for in-kind donation or purchased Homeless Program using donated funds. (subject Service to availability).
Supporting High School Seniors experiencing homelessness with Graduation Fees, Prom, and Grad Bash.
ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL An important goal of McKinney-Vento is to afford homeless preschoolers the same opportunity to enroll, attend and succeed in preschool as non-homeless preschoolers
Q1. How does the McKinney-Vento Law define “school of origin”? ANSWER: “SCHOOL OF ORIGIN” INCLUDES EITHER: THE SCHOOL THE CHILD ATTENDED DURING HIS OR HER LAST PERMANENT RESIDENCE, OR THE SCHOOL IN WHICH THE CHILD WAS LAST ENROLLED.
Q2. Can McKinney- Vento Students enroll in any school they want? NO, STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY AS MCKINNEY- VENTO ELIGIBLE ONLY HAVE 2 OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL SELECTION: SCHOOL OF ORIGIN – (AS DEFINED ABOVE) OR SCHOOL OF RESIDENCY – THE SCHOOL ASSIGNED TO THE ATTENDANCE AREA WHERE THE STUDENT IS CURRENTLY LIVING.
Q3. What if a family disagrees with a decision made by the school district in regards to school placement? ANSWER: IN THE EVENT OF A DISAGREEMENT, THE DISTRICT HAS A DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS IN PLACE. THE STUDENT MAY ENROLL IN SCHOOL UNTIL THE DISPUTE IS RESOLVED..
ANSWER: SCHOOL Q4. What if a student DISTRICTS MUST PROVIDE experiencing TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS WHO homelessness needs WISH TO REMAIN IN THEIR SCHOOLS OF transportation to their ORIGIN, EVEN IF THEY MOVE OUT OF DISTRICT. THIS EXISTS "school of origin"? AS LONG AS IT IS FEASIBLE AND IN THE CHILD’S BEST INTEREST..
Q5. Are preschoolers eligible for protections under the McKinney- Vento Act? YES…BECAUSE THE DISTRICT OFFERS PUBLIC PRE-K PROGRAMS THESE SERVICES MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS LIVING IN TRANSITIONAL SITUATIONS (EQUAL ACCESS).
Education stability for children in Foster Care
APPROXIMATELY 400,000+ CHILDREN NATIONALLY ARE IN FOSTER CARE HIGHER RATE OF MOBILITY National Statistics DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR HIGHER RATE OF IDENTIFICATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION For Youth APPROXIMATELY 50% DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL Experiencing OVER 40% EXPERIENCE EDUCATIONAL DIFFICULTIES (SUSPENSION/EXPULSION, SEGREGATION FROM PEERS, Foster Care RELATIONAL ISSUES, ETC.) LESS THAN 3% ATTAIN A FOUR- YEAR POST-SECONDARY DEGREE *ALMOST EVERY YOUTHEXPERIENCED TRAUMA
Highlights of the ESSA Foster Care Provision SCHOOL SELECTION – BEST INTEREST IMMEDIATE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FREE AND REDUCED SCHOOL OF ORIGIN DETERMINATION ENROLLMENT LUNCH OR NEWLY ZONED OCCURS PRIOR TO SCHOOL MOVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS
Best Interest Factors THE CHILD’S/YOUTH’S : SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STATE 1. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES 2. CONTINUITY OF RELATIONSHIPS 3. SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING 4. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION 5. DISTANCE/TRAVEL TIME TO AND FROM CURRENT 6. SCHOOL/NEW PLACEMENT AND THE IMPACT OF COMMUTE ON THE CHILD SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND/OR SERVICES 7.
Questions and answers
Jennifer Watley, LCSW VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS DISTRICT HOMELESS LIAISON FOSTER CARE POINT OF CONTACT 386-734-7190 X 20856
References National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE): NCHE operates the U.S. Department of Education’s technical assistance center for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program. NCHE provides a comprehensive website, webinars, onsite trainings, and publications that are updated on a regular basis. NCHE also hosts a listserv that provides updates, announcements, and links to resources. A Helpline to assist those who serve homeless children and youth with understanding and implementing the law is available via both phone (800-308-2145) and email (homeless@serve.org). https://nche.ed.gov/
References continued National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY): NAEHCY is a leader in advocacy and policy development in the area of homeless education. NAEHCY provides publications and activities to keep members abreast of emerging issues and proposed policy changes. In partnership with NCHE, NAEHCY hosts an annual conference that brings State Coordinators, local homeless liaisons, shelter and service providers, researchers, and advocates together to learn and network. http://naehcy.org/ School House Connections http://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/
Recommend
More recommend
