McKinney-Vento Homeless McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Education Assistance Act Act

What we need to What we need to know to show we care know to show we care about every child.about every child.

For many years, our image of a homeless person was that of a single, older man.

The Reality

As many as 190,000 Texas As many as 190,000 Texas students experience students experience homelessness during the homelessness during the year.year.

Why do people Why do people become homeless?become homeless?

PovertyPoverty

Lack of affordable housingLack of affordable housing

Who is homeless?Who is homeless?

The Federal The Federal McKinney-Vento McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Homeless Assistance Act says that children Act says that children and youth whoand youth who lack a lack a fixed, regular, and fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime adequate nighttime residence residence are are homeless.homeless.

Who is Who is homeless?homeless?

Who is Who is homeless?homeless?

Who is Who is homeless?homeless?

Who is Who is homeless?homeless?Families living in Families living in doubled-up doubled-up situations because situations because they have they have lost their housinglost their housing

Who is Who is HomelessHomeless...?...?

Who is Who is homeless?homeless?

Children and youth in Children and youth in temporary foster care temporary foster care while awaiting while awaiting placementplacement

What stressors do students What stressors do students in homeless situations in homeless situations experience?experience?

Transient /unstable Transient /unstable

lifestyle lifestyle

Transient / unstable lifestyle

Living in crowded Living in crowded

conditionsconditions

Transient / unstable lifestyle Living in crowded conditions

Frequently changing schools Frequently changing schools

Transient / unstable lifestyle Living in crowded conditions Frequently changing schools

Inadequate personal hygiene Inadequate personal hygiene

Transient / unstable lifestyle Living in crowded conditions Frequently changing schools Inadequate personal hygiene

Shabby or unclean clothing Shabby or unclean clothing

Transient / unstable lifestyle Living in crowded conditions Frequently changing schools Inadequate personal hygiene Shabby or unclean clothing

Poor health / nutrition Poor health / nutrition

Transient / unstable lifestyle Living in crowded conditions Frequently changing schools Inadequate personal hygiene Shabby or unclean clothing Poor health / nutrition

Sporadic school enrollment Sporadic school enrollment

Sporadic school attendanceSporadic school attendance

There is GREAT news!!There is GREAT news!!

The McKinney-VentoThe McKinney-VentoHomeless Assistance Act Homeless Assistance Act

defines and protects the rights defines and protects the rights of homeless students to enroll of homeless students to enroll in, attend, and succeed in our in, attend, and succeed in our public schoolspublic schools

The McKinney-Vento Act The McKinney-Vento Act mandates that . . .mandates that . . .

every school district isevery school district isrequired to have a homelessrequired to have a homelesseducation liaison, andeducation liaison, and

the liaison is required to the liaison is required to perform specific tasks.perform specific tasks.

Homeless Homeless LiaisonLiaison

Campus LiaisonsCampus Liaisons

Everyone is aware of the liaison. Everyone is aware of the liaison.

The liaison has autonomy to The liaison has autonomy to make decisions.make decisions.

Key Provisions of Key Provisions of

Law Address Law Address

Educational Educational Challenges Challenges

Key Provisions of Law Key Provisions of Law

Address Educational Address Educational

ChallengesChallengesImmediate EnrollmentImmediate Enrollment

IdentificationIdentification

Administer Student Residency Questionnaire to every student.

Counselors are trained to identify students.

Key Provisions of Law Key Provisions of Law

Address Educational Address Educational

ChallengesChallenges

Immediate Enrollment

Choice of SchoolsChoice of Schools

Key Provisions of Law Address Key Provisions of Law Address

Educational ChallengesEducational Challenges

Immediate Enrollment

Choice of Schools

TransportationTransportation

TransportationTransportation* Develop a contract

* Include important information

* Pick-up & drop points and times

* Bus driver’s contact info

* Each party’s responsibilities

* Signatures

Key Provisions of Law Key Provisions of Law

Address EducationalAddress Educational

Challenges Challenges Immediate Enrollment

Choice of Schools

TransportationServicesServices

Placement Placement

DecisionsDecisionsWork with Title I, Special Ed., and other programs

Set up systems for prompt placement in special programs

Key Provisions of Law Address Key Provisions of Law Address

Educational ChallengesEducational Challenges

Immediate Enrollment

Choice of Schools

Transportation

Services

Free LunchFree Lunch

Key Provisions of Law Address Key Provisions of Law Address

Educational ChallengesEducational Challenges

Immediate Enrollment

Choice of Schools

Transportation

Services

Dispute ResolutionDispute Resolution

Free Lunch

Know Your School Know Your School and Communityand Community

Resources

Needs

Human

Fiscal

Physical

Outreach EffortsOutreach Efforts

What does this mean to SWISD?

• SWISD’s number of identified homeless children is increasing each day.

• These children are there on your campus, in your classroom, next to you.

What can/should you do?• Remember F E R P A• Heighten your awareness• If you have a concern about a child alert your

campus liaison.• Talk with your campus liaison about how you

may be able to assist the student with academic success during difficult and trying times.

AwarenessAwareness*Staff training•Visit sites where

homeless students stay• Acquaint yourself with Ruby Paine’s work on poverty.

Student SupportStudent SupportHave a staff mentor for every student.

Student SupportStudent SupportWatch for isolated, “loner” students

Get them involvedin music, sports,Academics,Chess Club, etc.

Parent InformationParent Information

Notify all parents upon enrollment Notify all parents upon enrollment that in certain instances, their that in certain instances, their children may be able to remain at children may be able to remain at their school all year -- be sure totheir school all year -- be sure toask before changing schools.ask before changing schools.

Know your campusKnow your campusMcKinney VentoMcKinney VentoLiaison ! Liaison !

Southwest ISD Southwest ISD District McKinney Vento District McKinney Vento

LiaisonLiaisonDr. J.L. PitmanDr. J.L. Pitman210-622-4351210-622-4351

jpitman@swisd.netjpitman@swisd.net