HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS Educating Our Homeless Youth The

HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS Educating Our Homeless Youth

The Mc. Kinney-Vento Education Program • This federal act protects the rights of children in homeless situations to attend and succeed in school & preschool. • This act applies to all children who do not have a fixed, regular, & adequate residence.

What is the definition of homelessness? • Mc. Kinney-Vento covers children who are … • Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing (aka “doubling up”), economic hardships, or a similar reason; • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; • Living in emergency or transitional shelters; • Abandoned in hospitals; • Awaiting foster care placement (children who are already in foster care not considered homeless); • Have a primary night time residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and • Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.

What about kids “on their own”? o Yes, the Mc. Kinney-Vento act protects youth not living with a parent or guardian. These children are called “unaccompanied youth. ” Includes: • Youth asked to leave home by a parent • Youth who left home with the consent of a parent • Youth who have no formal custody papers or arrangements while their parents are in jail, the hospital or in rehab • Youth who ran away from home. Youth on their own cannot be kept out of school because they do not have an adult to enroll them.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth A homeless unaccompanied youth status is based upon the following definition: • A homeless unaccompanied youth is a youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and who meets the Mc. Kinney-Vento definition of homeless. There is no age range specified for an unaccompanied youth in the law. The upper age range is determined by what a state defines as school aged, unless the child is in special education in which case, the upper age range is twenty-one (21) years of age. There is no lower age range. As an example, a young child not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian, though living with a caregiver, and living in a situation that is not fixed, regular, and adequate, would be identified as a homeless unaccompanied youth.

Migrant Students • A migrant student is a child younger than 22 and has not graduated from high school, has moved across school district boundaries and changed residence, the primary purpose of the move was to obtain work that is temporary or seasonal AND agricultural or fishing, and the work is an important part of providing a living for the worker and family • Code in Power. School as a Migrant • Migrant students are covered by the Mc. Kinney-Vento Act if they are living in a homeless situation.

What rights do homeless families have? • The right to go to school no matter where you live. • The right to stay in the school he/she was attending before becoming homeless, if feasible. • The right for a written explanation of school choice by the district if unhappy with the decision. • The right to appeal the district’s decision regarding school choice. • The right to be enrolled in school immediately, even without all the required paperwork. No proof of address needed. • The right to be provided transportation if requested and it’s feasible. • The right to the same special programs provided other children. • The right to be in the mainstream environment. • The right to free school meals.

Enrolling Homeless Youth • Train all school enrollment staff on legal requirements regarding immediate enrollment. • Schools must immediately enroll homeless students even if they are missing: o o o Immunization records Physical exam/medical records School records Proof of residency A parent or guardian Birth certificates • Schools must call the student’s previous school to obtain records. Some records may never be obtained due to certain circumstances.

Mc. Kinney-Vento Identification Form o Mc. Kinney-Vento Act Identification Forms should be made available to every student during the registration process; however, we CANNOT require that the parent complete the form. Therefore, it is okay if a parent does not return the completed form to the school. o If “A” is checked on a completed form, the school should keep the form for one year and then destroy. If anything other than “A” is checked, your homeless liaison (or designee) should evaluate individual situations to determine if the student is homeless. The forms for the students that have been designated as homeless should be signed by the homeless liaison (or other designated person) and sent to me for District Office approval.

Mc. Kinney-Vento, continued o E-mail or Fax MV form verifying homeless status to 488 -6759, attn: Carolyn Chestnut, District Homeless Liaison. o Code student as homeless in Power. School and complete the other fields on the new Power. School custom page. o Keep a list (by school year) of homeless students which includes their beginning and ending dates of homelessness. o A homeless student that becomes permanently housed during a school year continues to remain eligible for services for the remainder of that school year. This helps ensure educational stability former homeless children.

Mc. Kinney Vento Act Identification Form The Federal Mc. Kinney-Vento Assistance Act provides services for students identified as living in transition or temporary housing. Completing this form will assist us in identifying students that qualify for services specified by the Mc. Kinney-Vento Act. If you have questions, please ask to speak to the homeless liaison at your child’s school or call Carolyn Chestnut, District Homeless Liaison, at 843 -488 -6768. Please complete the following: Student Name: __________ School: ________ Grade: _____ Birth date: _______ Power. School ID#: ____

Please check option for the student being enrolled: A. ______ has a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and is not temporarily sharing housing (Please supply proof of residence for new students. ) In this situation, the family is NOT considered homeless. If “A” is checked, do not check any options below. B. ______ is living in emergency or transitional shelters such as domestic violence or homeless shelters or transitional housing or other shelter or agency C. ______ is sharing the housing of other persons, including relatives or friends, due to: _____ loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (example: evicted from home, etc. ) [Explain: _________________________] _____ Long-term, cooperative living arrangement to save money or a similar reason _____Other (please specify): _____________________ D. ______is living in unsheltered places not ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations (e. g. , cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, campgrounds, etc. ) _____ substandard housing (lack of hot or cold water, flush toilet, electricity, etc. ) _____ Have a primary nighttime residence that is a place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for humans [Explain: _________________________] E. ______ is living in a motel, hotel, campground or similar setting due to: (check one) _____ Lack of alternative adequate accommodations, explain: __________ A convenient living arrangement or waiting for apartment or house to be ready _____ Other (please specify): _____________________

_____ Unaccompanied Youth – is a youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian AND who fits the Mc. Kinney-Vento definition of homeless. Please explain: _________________ School(s) child previously attended (if any) _______________________ Documents not available: _____ Birth Certificate _____ Social Security _____Immunization Reason document(s) not available: _____________________________ Please list all preschool age children in the home: ______________________________________ Are other children in the home enrolled in Horry County Schools? ______yes ______no If yes, please provide the name(s) and school(s) attended. The administration of the Horry County school in which the child attends is responsible for submitting the appropriate forms. Name(s) ____________________________________ School(s) _____________________________________ Parent/Guardian/Unaccompanied Youth Signature: ___________ Date: _____ School Personnel Signature: ___________________ Date: _____ Submit this form to Carolyn Chestnut, the District Homeless Liaison.

Power. School Homeless Indicator: Check this box to indicate the student is homeless. The box can be found in Power. School at “Start Page>Student Selection>Information>Custom Screens>HCS Screen – Edit. ” Homeless students are defined as children/youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes: 1. students who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; 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 are awaiting foster care placement; 2. students 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 (within the meaning of section 103(a)(2)(C)); 3. students who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and 4. migratory students who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because they are living in circumstances described in (1) through (3) above.

Power. School Served by Mc. Kinney-Vento: Please leave this field blank (default). None of our students receive services under the Mc. Kinney-Vento Program. (Services include both subgrants funded by the Mc. Kinney. Vento program, including 3 -5 year olds; direct services as outlined in the Mc. Kinney-Vento Act (Section 723); and indirect services such as those provided by a staff member whose position is supported through Mc. Kinney. Vento funds. )

Power. School Primary Nighttime Residence: Select the primary nighttime residence for the student from permitted values below: • • S – Shelters, transitional housing, awaiting foster care D – Doubled–up means sharing the housing of other persons due to economic hardship, loss of housing or other reasons (such as domestic violence). U – Unsheltered includes cars, parks, campgrounds, temporary trailers including FEMA trailers, or abandoned buildings H – Hotels/motels

Power. School Unaccompanied Youth: Select Yes from the drop-down list; otherwise, the field remains blank (default). A homeless unaccompanied youth is a youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and who fits the Mc. Kinney-Vento definition of homeless. There is no age range specified for an unaccompanied youth in the law. The upper age range is determined by what a state defines as school aged, unless the child is in special education in which case, the upper age range is twenty-one (21) years of age. There is no lower age range. Therefore, as an example, a young child not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, though living with a caregiver, and is living in a situation that is not fixed, regular, and adequate, would be identified as a homeless unaccompanied youth.

Title I, Part A • Homeless students are automatically eligible for services under Title I, Part A, whether or not they live in a Title I school attendance area or meet the academic standards required of other children for eligibility. They may receive Title I educational or support services from Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance school programs. • Do not automatically request Title I funding for a homeless student. Title I, Part A funds must be used as a last resort when funds or services are not reasonably available from other public or private sources. [At least three organizations/agencies/individuals that have been contacted for help must be listed on the Title I Funding Request Form. ]

Title I, continued • A district has the discretion to use reserved funds to provide services that are not available from other sources. Examples: student fees necessary to participate in general education program, school supplies, birth certificates necessary to enroll, immunizations, eyeglasses, fees for AP, IB, SAT/ACT testing, GED testing for school-age students. Other items that may be purchased: o School appropriate clothing, including shoes, coats & underwear must match gender of student – example: girl name must be girl or lady clothing- no men items o Toiletries – shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving items (age appropriate) feminine items (age appropriate). o Washing powder, Clorox & fabric softener o Toilet tissue & paper towels o Hand sanitizer & baby wipes (no running water in some cases)

Title I, continued • NOT ALLOWED: rent, class ring, extracurricular activities after school such as band, sports/football, dance, and cheer-leading are examples. Others examples are: • • Nose Rings Bathing suits Over the counter medicines or acne medicine – nothing that could cause an allergic reaction Jewelry Food, housing or electricity Cell phones or accessories Movies, DVDs

Title I, continued Procedures for requesting funding for homeless students: • Complete authorization form for Title I funding • Fax form to 488 -6759, attn: Carolyn Chestnut, District Homeless Liaison • Upon approval, someone from the Title I office will contact the school homeless liaison to schedule a time for making purchases

Contact Information Carolyn Chestnut Chief Officer and District Liaison for Homeless Education 488 -6768 Fax: 488 -6768 Judy Stall Coordinator of Title I 488 -6809 SC Department of Education Mc. Kinney-Vento Homeless Education Toll Free Line 1 -800 -565 -7261 National Center for Homeless Education www. serve. org/nche Helpline 1 -800 -308 -2145 or homeless@serve. org

Tips for Educators • Be familiar with common characteristics of students who are homeless. Common signals are attendance at several schools, poor hygiene, gaps in learning, transportation problems, poor health and nutrition, and a lack of preparedness for class. • Ensure that the student has every opportunity that a nonhomeless student has for participation in after-school activities and in-school programs. • Use tutoring and after-school programs to provide academic support.

Tips, continued • Inform parents about their child’s educational rights. • Know your attendance zone, visit shelters to make contact with shelter director. • Provide transportation assistance to get parents to school for conferences, school events, or PTA meetings. • Make sure the student enrolls in your school’s free meal program.

Tips, continued • Show that you care about the student! • Be sensitive, patient, calm and reassuring. • Contact the school district’s homeless education liaison for additional support.

How to Access the District Homeless Education Website • Go to the Main HCS web site and click on the “Departments” tab • Click on Instructional Support Services • Click on Homeless Education on the left side of the screen