Transcript Our Invisible Students: Homeless Children and Youth

Our Invisible Students:
Homeless Children and Youth
Pam Kies-Lowe
State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Michigan Department of Education
Office of Field Services
Special Populations Unit
McKinney-Vento
Definition of Homelessness
Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence:
 Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic
hardship, or similar reason
 Living in motels, hotels, RV/trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack
of adequate alternative accommodations
 Living in emergency, domestic violence, or transitional shelters
 Temporary foster care placement or awaiting placement
 Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live or
sleep
 Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, under
bridges, etc.
 Migratory children living in above circumstances
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McKinney-Vento
Preschool Requirements
 The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless
Children and Youth program, reauthorized as part of the
No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 (now known as the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act – ESEA),
entitles homeless children to a free, appropriate public
education, including a pre-school education.
[721(1)]
 States must ensure that homeless children have equal
access to the same public preschool programs,
administered by the State Education Agency, as
provided to other children in the State.
[722(g)(i)(F)(i)]
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McKinney-Vento
Preschool Requirements
 Under the McKinney-Vento Act, every LEA must designate a liaison for
students in homeless situations. [722(g)(1)(J)(ii)]
 Contact information for LEA Liaisons can be located in the Educational
Entity Master (EEM): www.michigan.gov/eem
 LEA homeless liaisons must ensure that ensure that homeless children
are identified, immediately enrolled in school, informed about
educational rights, including transportation, and receive educational
services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even Start
programs and preschool programs administered by the LEA.
[722(g)(6)(A)(iii)]
 State Coordinators for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
must coordinate with social services agencies, child development and
preschool program personnel and other agencies to provide
comprehensive services to preschoolers.
[722(f)(4) and (5)(A)]
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Federal Laws on
Homeless Preschoolers
 Local liaisons must ensure that young homeless children
have access to Head Start, Great Start, and other preschool
programs sponsored, funded, or administered by the LEA
 State Education Agency plans must describe procedures
that ensure that homeless children have access to public
preschool programs
 The reauthorized Head Start legislation (Dec. 2007)
includes many provisions designed to provide greater
access to Head Start programs for young children
experiencing homelessness
http://www.naehcy.org/dl/headstartsum1207.pdf
 New resources from HHS Admin. for Children & Families
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/news/expanding-ece-for-homeless-children
(Jan. 2013)
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Michigan Preschool Requirements

Head Start Act of 2007 Performance Standards

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Eligibility and enrollment
Access to community services and resources
 Great Start Readiness Program
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
Because GSRP programs are funded through ISDs, these
programs fall under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act
as “public preschool programs authorized by LEAs”
ALL McKinney-Vento requirements apply to Michigan
GSRP programs
Public School Preschool Programs

ALL McKinney-Vento requirements apply to Michigan
LEA-authorized/sponsored preschool programs
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REGIONAL McKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS EDUCATION GRANT CONSORTIA
2012 – 2013 Grant Year
Keweenaw
McKinney-Vento
Grant Consortia
2011 - 2014
Houghton
Ontonagon
Baraga
Luce
Marquette
Gogebic
Chippewa
Alger
Iron
Dickinson
Schoolcraft
Mackinac
Delta
Emmett
McKinney-Vento Consortium Grants
FISCAL AGENTS
Marquette-Alger RESA
C.O.P. ESA
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Alpena Public Schools
Iosco County ISD
Mason County Central Schools
Mecosta-Osceola ISD
Clare-Gladwin RESD
Newaygo County RESA
Muskegon Public Schools
Montcalm Area ISD
Carrollton Public Schools
Tuscola ISD
Ottawa Area ISD
Kent ISD
Genesee ISD
St. Clair RESA
Potterville Public Schools
Lansing Public Schools
Livingston ESA
Oakland Schools ISD
Macomb County ISD
Kalamazoo Public Schools
Calhoun County ISD
Jackson County ISD
Washtenaw ISD
Wayne RESA
Berrien County RESA
St. Joseph County ISD
Branch County ISD
Adrian Public Schools
Monroe County ISD
Cheboygan
Menominee
 ALL MI COUNTIES and ISDs
represented in M-V Homeless
Education Grant Consortia
Presque
Isle
Charlevoix
Antrim
Otsego
Montmorency
Alpena
Leelanau
Region 1
Benzie
Grand
Traverse
Manistee
Wexford
Kalkaska
Crawford
Missaukee
Roscommon
Oscoda
Ogemaw
Mason
Lake
Osceola
Clare
Gladwin
Oceana
Newaygo
Mecosta
Isabella
Midland
Alcona
Iosco
Region 3
Arenac
 Over 96% of MI LEAs
participating in M-V Grant
Consortia
Huron
Bay
Tuscola
Montcalm
Gratiot
Sanilac
Saginaw
Muskegon
Genesee
Ottawa
Region 2
Clinton
Lapeer
Shiawassee
St. Clair
Macomb
Allegan
Van Buren
Berrien
Ionia
Kent
Cass
Barry
Eaton
Kalamazoo
Calhoun
St. Joseph
Branch
Ingham
Jackson
Hillsdale
Livingston
Oakland
Washtenaw
Lenawee
Monroe
Region 4
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Wayne
 33 separate M-V grant
consortia and M-V grant
coordinators
Region 5
 Michigan’s “Safety Net” for
homeless children and youth
Homeless Prevalence
 Nationally, more
than 1.6 million
homeless* children;
of which more than
42% are younger
than 6 years old.
America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010, Children 0-18
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 African American
disproportionately
represented (47%).
 Single-mothers in
their 20s with
multiple young
children at higher
risk.
*
Based on HUD definition of
homelessness
Source: The National Center on Family Homelessness,
www.homelesschidlrenamerica.org
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Michigan Homeless Student Data
Homeless Students in Michigan
39,340
40,000
35,000
31,133
Michigan Great Start Readiness Program
37,532
30,000
22,673
25,000
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13*
20,000
14,875
15,000
10,000
7,500
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
3424
2503
15540
16279
(13.6%)
(12.5%)
(70.0%*)
(68.0%*)
*A data collection change to align with a risk factor
consolidation prevents a discrete count for
homelessness separate from environmental risk.
5,000
Head Start in Michigan
0
# Enrolled
PRESCHOOL
Enrolled
Served
(Total Counts Ages 3-5, not Kdgn)
NA
259
587
457
NA
1317
375
859
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
701
1522
Sources: Single Record Student Database (2007-08) and
Michigan Student Data System, unduplicated
(2008-2012)
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624
766
1210
1189
(1.55%)
(1.81%)
(2.80%)
(#.#%)
Homeless Preschoolers
 42% of children in homeless families are under 6 years old,
yet are significantly under-represented in preschool
programs
 1 in 5 homeless children 3 – 6 years old have emotional
problems severe enough to require professional care
 16% of homeless preschoolers have behavioral problems,
including severe aggression and hostility
 Are 4 times more likely than housed preschoolers to show
developmental delays
 Have 2 times the rate of learning disabilities as nonhomeless peers
 Are categorically eligible for Head Start/Early Head Start
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FACTORS CONTRIBUTING
TO HOMELESSNESS
 Lack of Affordable Housing
 Economic Insecurity
 Violence at Home
 Behavioral Health
 Lack of Social Support
 Involvement in the Child Welfare System
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FACTORS CONTRIBUTING
TO HOMELESSNESS
Source: Children 0-18, The National Center on Family Homelessness,
www.homelesschidlrenamerica.org
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NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES of
HOMELESSNESS ON YOUNG CHILDREN
 Family history and stresses are cumulative and impact how
children and adults think, feel, behave and relate to others.


Cumulative nature increases risk and negative consequences
Research associates with trauma and changes in brain development
 For young children, we must take into account the impact of
homelessness on their mothers as well.
 Children who are homeless are more likely to:



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Suffer from acute and chronic medical illnesses
Have greater risk of exposure to environmental risks
Go hungry at twice the rate of other children
Have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems
Have difficulty in school
Much more data available…
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Research on School Mobility
 It takes children an average of 4-6 months to recover
academically after changing schools.
 Mobile students score 20 points lower on standardized tests
than non-mobile students.
 Mobile students are less likely to participate in extracurricular
activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble.
 Average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly
lower in high schools with high student mobility rates.
 Students who changed high schools even once were less than
half as likely as stable students to graduate, even controlling
for other factors.
Project Forum at NASDSE, March 2007
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, 2006
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Impact of Homelessness on
Children and Youth
Research shows that homeless children are
more likely to suffer from:
 Health problems
 Emotional and mental health problems
 Developmental problems


4 times more likely to show delayed development
2 times as likely to have learning disabilities as
non-homeless children.
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Impact of Homelessness
on Children and Youth
Research shows that homeless children are
more likely to suffer from:
 Academic performance problems

2.5 times more likely to perform below grade level
in math

1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level
in reading

1.5 times more likely to perform below grade level
in spelling
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The Duties of Local Liaisons
Local liaisons must ensure that:
 Homeless children and youth are identified by school
personnel and through coordination activities with other
entities and agencies;
 Homeless students enroll in, and have full and equal
opportunity to succeed in, the schools of the LEA;
 Homeless children and youth and their families receive
educational services for which they are eligible, including




Head Start, Great Start & other LEA preschool programs
Special education services (including Part C)
Title I, Part A academic support services
Referrals to health, mental health, dental, and
other appropriate services
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The Duties of Local Liaisons continued
Local liaisons must ensure that:
 Parents or guardians of homeless children and youth are informed of
educational and related opportunities available to their children, and
are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the
education of their children
 Parents and guardians and unaccompanied youth are fully informed
of all transportation services, including transportation to and from
the school of origin, and are assisted in accessing transportation
services
 Enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with the
requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act
 Public notice of the educational rights of homeless students is
disseminated to locations where they receive services under the
McKinney-Vento Act
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Identifying Eligible MV Students
Why don’t families or students just TELL THE SCHOOL?
 Students and parents may try to hide their situation because
they are embarrassed by their homelessness.
 Parents fear of having children taken away often prevents
families from revealing their living circumstances to school
officials.
 Unaccompanied youth may not report their homeless status
for fear of being returned to unsafe family environments.
 School personnel often do not understand the nature of
homelessness and its causes, or the breadth of the federal
definition of homelessness.
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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
NEW RESOURCES (January, 2013):
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/news/expanding-ece-for-homeless-children
 ACF Dear Colleague Letter on the importance of
providing early care and education (ECE) services to
homeless children
 ACF Fact Sheet: Policies and Procedures to Increase
Access to ECE Services for Homeless Children and
Families
 ACF Fact Sheet: Strategies for Increasing ECE Services for
Homeless Children
 ACF Fact Sheet: Early Childhood and Family
Homelessness Resource List
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FOCUS ON
THE INTERSECTION OF
IDEA & McKINNEY-VENTO
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Homeless Children and Youth
with Disabilities
 Nationally 


14% of homeless children are diagnosed with learning
disabilities, double the rate of other children
54% of homeless children experience some sort of
developmental delay
2007-2008: 66,306 homeless students with disabilities
were reported by public school districts
 Michigan –

2011-2012 school year: 7,892 homeless students with
disabilities were served by LEAs
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IDEA and McKinney-Vento
 IDEA specifically defines “homeless children” to
include all children and youth considered
homeless by McKinney-Vento. 1402(11); 300.19
 IDEA specifically requires each public agency to
ensure that the rights of unaccompanied
homeless youth are protected. 300.519(a)
 Child Find - The State must ensure that all
students with disabilities who need special
education are identified, located, and evaluated:
specifically includes homeless students, infants,
and toddlers 1412(2)(3)(A); 300.111
(www.projectfindmichigan.org)
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Barriers to Special Education
Caused by Homelessness
 Not being identified as needing special education services
 Difficulty with diagnosis due to mobility and other
stressors
 Lack of timely assessment, diagnosis, or service provision
 Lack of continuity of services due to school transfers
 Lack of timely or efficient records transfer when enrolling
in a new school
 Lack of an available parent or surrogate to represent the
child or unaccompanied youth
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How IDEA Serves Homeless Students
 Federal law does not assign financial
responsibility to any particular school district for
special education placements when homeless
students are crossing district lines to remain in
their school of origin. States generally have their
own policies, such as requiring the school district
receiving state and federal money for the student
to pay, or requiring the involved districts to share
the cost. 34 CFR §300.149
 Evaluations for homeless children suspected of
having disabilities should be expedited, as should
the provision of required meetings and services.
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What about Part C of IDEA?
 Part C of IDEA requires States that accept Part C
funds to make appropriate early intervention
services available to infants and toddlers with
disabilities and their families located in the State,
including infants and toddlers with disabilities and
their families who are homeless.
20 U.S.C. §§1434(1) and 1435(a)(2)
 The State’s child find system provides that the State may
conduct outreach to primary referral sources such as
family shelters for the homeless, health service offices,
and public schools by providing these entities with public
awareness materials about the State’s Part C program.
34 CFR §303.320
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Coordinating IDEA and McKinney-Vento
 Create and promote policies and practices for regular,
ongoing communication and collaboration among
IDEA and McKinney-Vento staff.
 Review and, if necessary, revise state and local policies
and practices so the necessary tools are available to
address complex situations creatively, flexibly, and
expeditiously.
 REPEAT ANNUALLY!
 When a complex situation arises, work as a team,
utilizing a clear and consistent process to resolve the
situation.
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Questions?
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Why we do what we do…
“…Through it all, school is probably the only thing that
has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in
those doors, I can stop thinking about my problems
for the next six hours and concentrate on what is most
important to me. Without the support of my school
system, I would not be as well off as I am today. School
keeps me motivated to move on, and encourages me to
find a better life for myself.”
Carrie Arnold, LeTendre Scholar, 2002
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Contact Information
Homeless Education Program Office
517-241-1162
www.michigan.gov/homeless
State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Pam Kies-Lowe
[email protected]
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