McKinney-Vento 101February 11, 2014

McKinney-Vento Regional Education ProgramOffice of Student & Family Services

1,7051,3931,055

Richmond Public Schools’ Homeless Students

Infants/Toddlers and PK-12 Combined

2011-20122012-20132013-2014 (to date)

Homeless Data: 2011-2014

A parent has arrived at your school and states that

she and her children are currently in a homeless

situation.

What questions do you ask? What procedures should you follow? What are the parent’s rights? What steps do you take if homeless status is in

question?

Scenario

Who is Homeless?

Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; AND

who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (doubled-up population)

living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds

living in emergency or transitional shelters awaiting foster care placement unaccompanied youth (Brief) – youth not in the

physical custody of a parent or legal guardian

Why Do Parents Become Homeless?

Substance abuse Could not pay rent/evicted Overcrowded/argument Domestic Violence

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act,

Title X, Part C of theNo Child Left Behind Act

Procedures

Identification: school staff, Truancy, community agencies, HS/VPI, Ex. Ed.• Complete MFD/Tracking Form

Enrollment• Must be immediate• Attend classes• Free Lunch• Request for transportation

made to Homeless Ed. Office (780-6288)

Notification• Cafeteria Manager• Homeless Ed. Office (fax

MFD & Determination of Housing Status forms to 819-4424)

• Teacher• School Social Worker

Records• Are NOT required upon

enrollment• Transfer of records must occur

expeditiously

Enrollment

• Schools immediately enroll students experiencing homelessness even when lacking:– Proof of residency– Guardianship– Birth certificates, school records, or other documents– Medical records, including immunization records– Required dress code items, including uniforms

• Immediate enrollment is defined as attending classes and full participation in school activities

School Selection

School placement in: School of origin, if the parent wishes and it is

feasible School in area of current residency Right to attend school of origin for duration of

homelessness If permanently housed during the academic year,

right to remain in current school for remainder of the academic year

Transportation

Provided by the local education agency (LEA) Inter-district Transportation Agreement GRTC bus cards Gas cards Transportation may be arranged by contacting

the RRHEP office @ 780-6288

Access to Comparable Services

Homeless students are entitled to receiveeducational services for which any other

student is eligible, including:

Free/Reduced Lunch (cafeteria mgr. memo) Title I/Exceptional Education School Supplies (teacher/school social worker memo) Summer School Head Start/Even Start and VPI Preschool Programs MV Social Worker servicing (3) high schools: Armstrong,

Wythe, and Huguenot

Identify and Document Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness

How to?

Possible Signs of Homelessness

History of attending many schools Erratic attendance and tardiness Multiple families at the same address or the

address of a low income motel in the area Resistance to parting with personal possessions

Families are reluctant to identify themselves as homeless! Using the word “homeless” may be uncomfortable for a family. The educational definition is broad and includes situations the

family may not initially consider as homeless. Terms such as “being in transition” or “temporarily housed”

should be used initially.

Introduce a statement such as:

“The description of your current living arrangement may meet the definition of homelessness we use in schools. If it does, there are some additional ways we can help your child.”

ID Tips

When staff recognizes that a family may be experiencing homelessness, it is important that such a discussion is conducted in a private space to maintain confidentiality. Initial questions may include:

“Can you tell me more about your recent moves?” “How long did you live at your last address?” “What brought you to our area/school zone?”

Sharing in a Respectful Manner

We’re on the web! There you will have access to all of our forms, the RPS Homeless Policy, news, updates, and informational briefs.

http://web.richmond.k12.va.us/Programs/RRHEP.aspx

Mary Herrington-Babb, Program Coordinator

mherring@richmond.k12.va.us

Alia Butler Adlich, McKinney-Vento Social Worker (Armstrong, Huguenot, Wythe)

abutler3@richmond.k12.va.us

Tamika Massie, Program Assistant

tmassie@richmond.k12.va.us

Office Phone: 780-6288

Fax: 819-4424

How Can We Support You?