SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION OF
UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS STUDENTS
Lynne Weise M.Ed/PPWHomeless Liaison
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
STEP 1: WHO IS HOMELESS?
Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing,
economic hardship, or similar reason (“doubling up”) Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to
the lack of adequate alternative accommodations Living in emergency or transitional shelters
Awaiting foster care placement Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to
live Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard
housing, bus or train stations, or a similar settingMigratory children living in the above circumstancesUnaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances
Does NOT match HUD’s definition
STEP 1: WHO IS HOMELESS?
STEP 2: WHO IS UNACCOMPANIED?
According to the McKinney-Vento Act, an unaccompanied homeless student is a child or youth “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”
The Act refers to physical custody, not legal custody; in practical terms, this usually means that the student is living apart from his/her parent(s) or guardian(s)
AGE LIMIT?
“Age limits”Lower: There is no lower age limit for
unaccompanied homeless youthUpper: The upper age limit (as with all McKinney-
Vento eligible students) in Maryland is the upper age limit for public education; this is usually 21 for special education
April 22 count = 187 total enrolled for SY 2012/13
“BUT, THE STUDENT CHOSE TO LEAVE…”
A youth can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was asked to leave the home or “chose” to leave
Sometimes there is “more than meets the eye” for youth’s home life situations
WOULD YOU?
If your family life was problematic, would you disclose this information in detail to a person you are just
meeting?
Unaccompanied homeless students and/or parents may or may not wish to discuss or feel comfortable sharing
issues occurring in their home life.Fear of being “taken” away
THE SCHOOL’S CHARGE
Schools first and foremost are educational agenciesThe school’s primary responsibility and goal is to enroll
and educate, in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act (federal); federal law supersedes state and local law
Schools do not need to understand and/or agree with all aspects of a student’s home life to educate him/her
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
Plyler v. Doe: Undocumented students are eligible for McKinney-Vento services to the same extent as documented students; this would include undocumented unaccompanied homeless students
DEMOGRAPHICS
Source: Homeless Youth in the United States: Recent Research Findings and Intervention Approaches, http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/homelessness/symposium07/toro/index.htm
Multiple studies estimate that 1+ million youth ages 12-17 will become homeless unaccompanied homeless youth each year
Show a disproportionate representation of minority ethnic groups, GLBT youth, and pregnant/parenting teens
Generally aged 13 or older, but can be younger
PATHS TO BEING“ON YOUR OWN”
Longstanding patterns of family conflict: blended family issues, pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, alcohol/drug use
Abuse and/or neglect within the homeParental incarceration, substance abuse, illness,
hospitalization, or deathHuman trafficking?
PATHS TO BEING“ON YOUR OWN” (CONT)
Foster care issues: running away from a foster care placement, aging out of the foster care system; significant correlation between involvement with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult
Some students become homeless with their families, but end up on their own due to lack of space in temporary accommodations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys
SCENARIO
Jeremy, a senior in high school, shows up at your school by himself wanting to enroll. He says he left home because his stepdad is a jerk and he can’t stand living with him anymore. He is currently living with his grandmother, but isn’t sure if he can stay long.Is Jeremy homeless?Is Jeremy unaccompanied?Other questions?
BARRIERS TO EDUCATION
Lack of stable housing (affects access to bathing facilities, laundry facilities, etc.)
Lack of a parent or guardian (support, guidance, signing, etc.)
Lack of school records and other paperworkEmotional crisis / Mental health issues/PTSDEmployment: Many are self-supporting and have to
balance school and work
BARRIERS TO EDUCATION (CONT)
Lack of transportationLack of school supplies, clothingFatigue, poor health, hunger (difficulty meeting basic
needs)Credit accrual policies, attendance policiesConcerns about being apprehended by authorities
RIGHTS FOR ALL HOMELESS STUDENTS
Immediate enrollment, even if lacking paperwork normally required
School selection: Local attendance area school or school of origin, according to the student’s best interest
Transportation to/from the school of originComparable services, including transportation
RIGHTS FOR ALL HOMELESS RIGHTS FOR ALL HOMELESS STUDENTS STUDENTS (CONT)(CONT)
Access to educational programs for which they are eligible (Title IA, IDEA, ELL, migrant education, vocational/technical education, gifted and talented, etc.)
Free school meals (USDA’s Child Nutrition Act)
SPECIFIC M-V PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS
STUDENTSEnrollment without proof of guardianshipAssistance from the local liaison in selecting a school of
attendance and enrollingAssistance from the local liaison in receiving transportation to
the school of originCan initiate the dispute resolution process for himself/herselfAssistance from the local liaison in resolving any disputes that
arise
SPECIFIC M-V PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS STUDENTS
(CONT)
Student receives written notice in disputesMcKinney-Vento subgrant application consideration: the extent
to which case management or related services will be provided to unaccompanied homeless students
Authorized use of subgrant funds: “The provision of services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youths, and unaccompanied homeless youths, in public school programs and services provided to nonhomeless children and youths”
SPECIFIC IDEA PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS
STUDENTSSurrogate Parents
SEA “must make reasonable efforts” to appoint within 30 daysAre considered the unaccompanied homeless youth’s parent
for special education purposesCannot be an employee of the SEA, LEA, or any other agency
involved in the education or care of the childMust have no personal or professional interests in conflict
with the interest of the childMust have the necessary knowledge and skills
SPECIFIC IDEA PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS STUDENTS
(CONT)
Temporary Surrogate Parents Appointed immediately Staff of shelters, independent living programs, and street outreach
programs, and qualified school personnel (including local liaisons) that are involved in the education or care of the child may be appointed as temporary surrogate parents
Must have no personal or professional interests in conflict with the interest of the child
Must have the necessary knowledge and skillsRights transfer to the student upon the student
reaching the age of majority
“OTHER STUFF”
Consider state-specific issues: Reporting, medical consent, etc.
FERPA: Parental consent is not required for transfer of records to an enrolling school
General liability concerns: The relationship between liability and negligence
SCENARIO
Remember Jeremy? He couldn’t get along with his stepfather and is living temporarily with his grandmother. Two days after your school enrolled him, his mom calls insisting that the school force Jeremy to come home and threatens to sue the school if you don’t disenroll Jeremy immediately.Would you disenroll Jeremy?How would you respond?Other questions?
ENROLLMENT STRATEGIES
US ED Guidance: “Develop caregiver affidavits, enrollment forms for unaccompanied homeless youth, and other forms to replace typical proof of guardianship. Again, such forms should be carefully crafted so they do not create further barriers or delay enrollment”
July 2004 Policy Guidance, Question G-8
ENROLLMENT REMINDERS
A school district can not require a caregiver to obtain legal guardianship at any point prior to or following an unaccompanied homeless student’s enrollment
A school district can not discontinue a student’s enrollment due to an inability to identify a caregiver, guardian, or parent following enrollment or to produce guardianship or other paperwork
Provide access to diversified learning opportunities (vocational education, credit-for-work programs, flexible school hours, etc.) yet don’t assume youth will need or desire this option
Provide before- or after-school supportPermit exceptions to school policies on class schedules,
tardiness, absences and credits to accommodate the needs of unaccompanied homeless youth
Assist with credit accrual and recovery (chunking credits, partial credits, flexible school hours, etc.)
Provide access to a “safe place” and trained mentor at school
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
GENDER
GRADE LEVEL
ETHNICITY
HIGH SCHOOL GRADES
A/B 38C 26D 16Failing 16DropOut 22
Total 118
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