1 Supporting the Needs of Homeless Children and YouthOSPI Counseling Conference June 23, 2017 Spokane June 29, 2017 Olympia
2 Today’s Session… Overview: Children and youth experiencing homelessness in Washington State Causes and impacts of homelessness Understand general provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act (w/ESSA updates) Responsibilities of school districts Higher Education Awareness
3 How many children and youth experience homelessness?2.5 million children nationally (1 in 30 children) 10% of all children living in poverty 733, million youths Over 40% of all children who are homeless are under the age of 5 In Washington: 39,127 in
4 Causes of HomelessnessLack of affordable housing Deep poverty Health problems Domestic violence Natural and other disasters Abuse/neglect (unaccompanied youth) Great Recession NCHE • NAEHCY • The Center for Family Homelessness •
5 Research on School MobilityStudents who switch schools frequently score lower on standardized tests; study found mobile students scored 20 points lower than non-mobile students Mobility also hurts non-mobile students; study found average test scores for non-mobile students were significantly lower in high schools with high student mobility rates It takes children several months to recover academically after changing schools NCHE • NAEHCY •
6 Research on School Mobility (cont.)Students suffer psychologically, socially, and academically from mobility; mobile students are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble Mobility during high school greatly diminishes the likelihood of graduation; study found students who changed high schools even once were less than half as likely as stable students to graduate, even controlling for other factors NCHE • NAEHCY •
7 Research on School Mobility, cont.39% of sheltered homeless children missed more than one week of school per quarter and changed school from two to five times in 12 months
8 Homelessness and Dropping OutThere aren't national statistics on the graduation rates for homeless youth. (This should improve with new ESSA/McKinney-Vento data requirements.) Some states have been able to disaggregate homeless student graduation rates from other subgroups, and found that homeless students had the lowest graduation rate/highest-drop out rate of all groups. The report found that young people affected by homelessness were 87% more likely to leave school (drop out) than those with a more stable place to live. This makes homelessness the highest risk factor for not graduating on time. A Report from America’s Promise Alliance and its Center for Promise at Tufts University
9 Barriers to Education for Homeless Children and YouthEnrollment requirements (school records, immunizations, proof of residence and guardianship) High mobility resulting in lack of school stability and educational continuity Lack of access to programs Lack of transportation Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc. Poor health, fatigue, hunger Prejudice and misunderstanding NCHE • • NAEHCY •
10 Who is homeless? The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youths as… Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes: Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
11 Who is homeless, cont. are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or
12 Who is homeless, cont. Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
13 Who is homeless, cont. Migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described (above.)
14 Who uses the McKinney-Vento Definition of “homeless”?Elementary and Secondary Education (ED) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (ED) Violence Against Women Act (DOJ) Higher Education Act (ED) Head Start Act (HHS) Child Nutrition Act (USDA)
15 Washington State Data Trends: 8,141 : 12,274 : 13,942 : 16,853 : 18,670 : 20,780 : 21,826 : 26,049 : 27,390 : 30,609 : 32,539 : 35,511 : 39,127
16 Nighttime Residence
17 Sub-Populations
18 McKinney-Vento GrantsCurrently, Washington receives $1.06 M (approximately $800,000 distributed to districts in the form of grants) Competitive grants awarded in 42 sites Of 309 Local Education Agencies, 268 reported homeless students enrolled in (LEAs include schools districts, charter schools, tribal compacts, etc.)
19 The McKinney-Vento ActThe federal McKinney-Vento Act ensures that children and youth experiencing homelessness are able to enroll, attend and succeed in school. Homeless students must be able to attend and participate fully in all school activities, including after-school athletics, co-curricular activities and other school-sponsored events.
20 Key Provisions—School SelectionChildren and youth experiencing homelessness can stay in their school of origin or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to their best interest School of origin—school attended when permanently housed or in which last enrolled (now includes preschools and feeder schools) Best interest—keep homeless students in their schools of origin, based on best interest, unless this is against the parents’ or guardians’ wishes. (The law presumes the school of origin is in the child’s best interest.)
21 Determining Best InterestContinuity of instruction Age of the child or youth Safety of the child or youth Length of stay at the shelter Likely area where family will find permanent housing Student’s need for special instructional programs Impact of commute on education School placement of siblings Time remaining in the school year Best interest = student-centered
22 School Districts are Required to…Identify homeless students Immediately enroll homeless students, even if they lack records normally required for enrollment (including academic records, immunization records, birth certificates, medical records, and other records) Maintain enrollment in the school of origin, based on the best interest of the child Transfer records immediately when a student moves Provide transportation to/from school of origin Resolve disputes related to enrollment and provision of service
23 District requirements, cont.Provide comparable services Coordinate and collaborate with other agencies/entities providing services to homeless children, youth and their families Coordinate with state and local housing agencies Provide training to district staff Provide special services, including Special Education, early childhood, preschool, etc. Set aside Title I funds to serve homeless students in schools
24 Local Homeless Education LiaisonsEvery LEA must designate a liaison for students in homeless situations Liaisons are required to attend training, and in turn, they are to provide district-level training to staff that work with students experiencing homelessness. Responsibilities Ensure that children and youth in homeless situations are identified Ensure that homeless students enroll in and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school Link with educational services, including preschool and health services NCHE • • NAEHCY •
25 Local Homeless Education Liaisons (cont.)Inform parents, guardians, or youth of educational and parent involvement opportunities Post public notice of educational rights Resolve disputes Inform parents, guardians, or youth of transportation services, including to the school of origin NCHE • • NAEHCY •
26 Unaccompanied Youth
27 Who are Unaccompanied Homeless Youth?Not in the physical custody of parents or guardians 2) Homeless Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence 3) Youth No minimum or maximim age limitations (Eligible for school enrollment)
28 Unaccompanied Youth: Homeless on Their OwnYouth may become homeless with their families, but end up on their own due to lack of space in temp. accommodations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys Youth may have fled abuse and/or dysfunction in the home. Studies have found that 20-40% were sexually abused in their homes; 40-60% were physically abused Over two-thirds of callers to Runaway Hotline report at least one of their parents abuses drugs or alcohol 21 – 53% of homeless youth have a history of out- of-home care through the child welfare system Toro, P. Dworsky, A. and Fowler, P. (2007). “Homeless Youth in the United States: Recent Research Findings and Intervention Approaches.” Toward Understanding Homelessness: The 2007 National Symposium on Homelessness Research.
29 Unaccompanied Youth: Homeless on Their OwnYouth may have been thrown out of their homes due to sexual orientation: 20-40% of unaccompanied youth identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (compared to 3-5% of adults) The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless (2007). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth: An epidemic of homelessness. Youth may have been thrown out of their homes due to pregnancy (10% of currently homeless female teenagers are pregnant) Toro, P. Dworsky, A. and Fowler, P. (2007). “Homeless Youth in the United States: Recent Research Findings and Intervention Approaches.” Toward Understanding Homelessness: The 2007 National Symposium on Homelessness Research.
30 Unaccompanied Youth: Homeless on Their OwnAs the economy worsens, some families are forced to send older teenagers out to support themselves Over half of youth living in shelters report that their parents either told them to leave, or knew they were leaving and did not care Runaway Switchboard 32% of runaway and homeless youth have attempted suicide at some point in their lives. Westat, Inc National Evaluation of Runaway and Homeless Youth. Washington, DC: US Dep't of HHS, Admin on Children, Youth and Families. -
31 Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Districts must ensure…Unaccompanied youth Are enrolled in school Have opportunities to meet the same state academic standards established for other children and youth Are informed of their status as “independent students” on the FAFSA May obtain assistance from the school to receive verification of housing status
32 Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Districts must ensure… (cont.)Barriers are identified and removed Students receive appropriate credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school Students do not face barriers accessing academic and extracurricular activities including: Magnet school Summer school Career and Technical Education Advanced Placement Online learning Charter school programs
33 A note about student privacy…Privacy – Information about a homeless child’s or youth’s living situation shall be treated as a student education record, and shall not be deemed to be directory information.
34 Higher Education and FAFSA
35 What About Higher EducationWhat About Higher Education? Can Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Apply for Federal Financial Aid? Yes! Assistance from advocates is important Due to severe poverty, they are extremely unlikely to be able to access postsecondary education without federal student aid
36 FAFSA Barriers Youth cannot supply the information required by the FAFSA (such as documentation) Youth may not know how to fill out the form and can become overwhelmed by the amount of information requested The FAFSA requires most students to provide financial information and signatures from parents/guardians
37 College Cost Reduction and Access ActIn September of 2007, President Bush signed into law the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 Included within this legislation are amendments to expand the definition of independent student in FAFSA to include: (1) unaccompanied homeless youth; (2) youth who are in foster care at any time after the age of 13 or older, and; (3) youth who are emancipated minors or are in legal guardianships as determined by an appropriate court in the individual's state of residence.
38 What Can You Do To Assist Unaccompanied Homeless Youth?Inform unaccompanied homeless youth that they can go to college, even without parental financial support Provide assistance with FAFSA completion Connect with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison in your district for verification and connection to other needed services & resources If you are a Liaison, VERIFY! Fill out a verification template for every unaccompanied homeless youth senior and make three copies 1) student 2) liaison and 3) counselor
39 What Can You Do To Assist Unaccompanied Homeless Youth? (cont.)Contact the financial aid administrator at the college of the student’s choice for more information about how that institution handles determinations of independence and dependency overrides Know the AVG (Application and Verification Guide) Provide letters attesting to the youth’s unaccompanied and homeless status. Help students address barriers to higher education or connect them with school resources that can assist.
40 What Can You Do To Assist Unaccompanied Homeless Youth? (cont.)Locate and develop a relationship with a state or local college access organization in your community. College access organizations provide counseling, advice, and financial assistance Connect with local Gear Up, Trios and other resources
41 Resources Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: National Center for Homeless Education: SchoolHouse Connection: National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty:
42 For more information… Melinda Dyer, Program Supervisor Education of Homeless Children and Youth Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
43 For more information… Ella DeVerse, Administrative Program SpecialistEducation of Homeless Children and Youth Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction