No Migrant Child Left Behind

How McKinney & Migrant Education Programs Can Work Together to Serve Migrant Students Who Are Experiencing Homelessness

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The McKinney-Vento Act Title X, Part C of NCLB

Maria Perez de Leon Statewide Migrant Education Recruitment Coordinator Homeless Liaison for Homeless Migrant Colorado Department of Education Phone: 303-866-6754 E-mail: [email protected]

Dana Scott State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth Colorado Department of Education Phone: 303-866-6930 Email: [email protected]

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Colorado Data (McK-V and MEP)

In the 2007-08 school year: • Colorado’s 8 migrant regions identified 11,614 children and youth living in migrant situations • • Of this number 2,124 were identified as “McKinney-Vento” eligible In total, Colorado school districts identified 12,302 children and youth experiencing homelessness 3

Barriers to Education for Children & Youth in Homeless Situations

• • • • • • • High mobility Enrollment requirements (school records, immunizations, proof of residence and guardianship) Lack of transportation Lack of access to programs Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc.

Poor health, fatigue, hunger Prejudice and misunderstanding Education for Homeless Children and Youth 4

Eligibility —Who is a McKinney Student?

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, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations • Living in emergency or transitional shelters • Abandoned in hospitals 5

Who is a McKinney Student?

(cont.)

• Awaiting foster care placement • Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live • Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, etc.

• Migratory children living in above circumstances • Are unaccompanied youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian lacking a fixed, adequate or regular nighttime residence 6

McKinney Vento Overview

Main themes:

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School stability

•

School access

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Support for academic success

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Child-centered, best interest decision making

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The Rights of McKinney students:

• • • •

When migrant students are identified as eligible for services under the McKinney Vento Act, they are ensured many rights:

A Homeless Education Liaison in every public school district Enroll in school immediately without proof of residency, immunizations, school records, etc… Choose between the local school where they are living (“Attendance Area School”) OR The school they attended before they lost their housing or the school where they were last enrolled (“School of Origin”) 8

The Rights of McKinney students: (cont)

•

Differ

• • • • Get transportation to their school of origin (if in their best interest) Receive the school services they need Be free from harassment and isolation Have disagreements with the school settled quickly through a dispute resolution process 9

SHARED SYSTEMS

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Title I-C Programs Migrant Education Program:

Bi-National Teacher Exchange Transfer Documents Parent Advisory Council Emergency Hotline- 1-800-234-8848 Migrant Youth Institute 11

Identification and Recruitment

“Finding and enrolling eligible migrant children is the cornerstone of the Migrant Education Program and its importance cannot be over emphasized” Identification and recruitment are critical activities… NRG of 2003 12

Identification and Recruitment

Connecting recruiters with the right contacts and resources!

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Cross Program Communication and Collaboration

• • Sharing information on the C.O.E.

Linking school district homeless education liaisons with migrant recruiters • Get to know each other • How do you share data? (SLV example) • What are your next steps after this training???

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Maximizing Resources McK-V

• • • Title IA “homeless set-asides” Subgrants National Homeless Education Hotline: 1 800-308-2145

MEP

• • Emergency Hotline: 1-800-234-8848 Academic Support through MEP 15

Know Your Community

Local resources: • • • • United Way 2-1-1 Information and Referral Line Department of Human Resources Local Funders 16

Migrant Ed + Homeless Ed

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Where do I start?

Dana Scott McKinney Homeless Education Programs 303-866-6930 [email protected]

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Maria Perez- de Leon Statewide Migrant Recruitment Coordinator 303-866-6754 [email protected]

A full list of Colorado district liaisons can be found at: www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprevention/homeless_liaisons.htm

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