eQuizShow

Milw. Area Homeless Liaison Training

McKINNEY-VENTO

Question: How is homelessness defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act?
Answer: It defines homelessness as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.

Question: How does the McKinney-Vento Act help a student who is experiencing homelessness enroll in school?
Answer: McKinney-Vento requires that school districts immediately enroll children experiencing homelessness even if they do not have the documents normally required for enrollment (birth certificate, immunization records and proof of address).  Also, unaccompanied, homeless youth are able to enroll in school without their parents.

Question: In determining best interest, the LEA shall presume that keeping the student in the school of origin is in the student's best interest, unless contrary to the request of the ________ or the _________ _____.
Answer: The parent or the unaccompanied homeless youth.


Question:

Amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act include a change in the definition of "school of origin".  In addition to the public school attended when last stably housed and/or the last public school attended, what does the definition now also include?


Answer: School of origin now includes the designated receiving school at the next grade level for all feeder schools when a student completes the final grade level served by the school of origin. (Determination of best interest is subject to the same process as other best interest determinations.)

Question:
When will the changes to the McKinney-Vento Act go into effect?

Answer: July 1, 2016 or October 1, 2016 - Waiting for clarification. 

"Awaiting foster care placement" will be removed from the definition on December 10, 2016.


RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOMELESS LIAISONS

Question: What are the main responsibilities of a homeless liaison?
Answer: Ensure the school district is in compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act including identification of students experiencing homelessness and ensuring that they receive the services they need.

Question: List at least 2 strategies for ensuring that students experiencing homelessness are identified.
Answer: Train enrollment staff to screen for homelessness, especially when parents/unaccompanied youth state they don't have proof of address.
Expect all secretarial staff to screen for homelessness when there is an address change.
Familiarize all school employees with the definition of homelessness and district procedures for identifying.
Ensure that enrollment forms include a question that allows parents/students to self-identify.


Question: How can Homeless Liaisons inform parents, students, school personnel and others of the rights of homeless children and youth under McKinney-Vento?
Answer:
Ensure your district has a policy and procedures in place for identifying and serving students who may qualify.  This should be accessible on the district website.
Brochures and posters should be available where parents have access in the school building and at resource fairs/open house/ enrollment fairs/community events and community agencies.
Staff development should include annual reminders of the definition and services available to students experiencing homelessness.



Question: What must liaisons inform 12th grade unaccompanied homeless youth of in regard to FAFSA?

Answer: Their status as "independent students" for the FAFSA application and also assistance in getting documentation to verify this.


Question: True or False?
Liaisons are authorized to affirm whether children and youth meet the McKinney-Vento and the Department of Housing and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of homelessness to qualify them for HUD homeless assistance programs.

Answer: True. 


IDENTIFICATION

Question: Why are some parents reluctant to identify themselves as homeless?
Answer: Not aware that they meet the definition of homeless when they are doubled up.
Embarrassed about their situation and reluctant to have school staff know, may feel they will be treated differently if staff do know.
May not know that they qualify for services, such as transportation to continue in the school of origin.


Question: How can youth who have run away from home be considered homeless?
Answer: McKinney-Vento includes runaway youth in the definition of homelessness.  They usually "lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence."  They may have lost housing due to a hardship, such as abuse, that they may not be comfortable sharing with others.  If they want to continue their education, we must remove barriers for them including enrolling and providing all other services.

Question: Are families considered homeless when they choose to share housing?
Answer: No, if both families have signed the lease or are sharing expenses equally and they intend to continue sharing housing, neither family is considered homeless. The housing is fixed, regular and adequate.
If one of the families has moved into the other's home after losing their own housing due to a hardship, they may be homeless.


Question: What is a strategy liaisons can implement to ensure they are identifying pre-school age children?

Answer: Ask parents/guardians/caregivers with older children if their are younger children in the family.

Coordinate and provide McKinney-Vento training and information to  local Head Start and public preschool providers.  Make flyers and posters available.



Question: To improve identification of homeless youth there is an increased emphasis on coordination among liaisons and what type of agencies?

Answer: Community and housing agencies. 


TRANSPORTATION

Question: Is a district required to provide busing for students who are homeless?
Answer: Districts are required to provide comparable services to students who are homeless.  If the district would provide busing to non-homeless students, they are required to provide busing to students who are homeless.  
Districts are also required to provide transportation to students experiencing homelessness to enable them to continue attending their school of origin if they have moved outside the normal busing region.


Question: When a student experiencing homelessness is living in one district and his school of origin is in a different district, how can he continue attending his school of origin?
Answer: The student or his parents can contact the homeless liaison in either the district of attendance or the district of residence and if it is in the student's best interest, they will ensure that he can continue attending the school of origin even though he does not live within the school's district boundaries.  Transportation must be provided, if needed.  Both districts share the cost of this transportation equally.

Question: McKinney-Vento requires school districts to consider a student's best interest when deciding whether the student should continue in the school of origin or enroll in a school near their temporary residence.  What factors should be considered when determining best interest?
Answer: Parent/student wishes, age of student, distance/length of commute, school programs (special education, ELL), grade of student, how long they may live at the temporary residence, where the family intends to look for stable housing.  
If it is determined that it is not in the student's best interest to continue at the school of origin, the district must provide the parent/ unaccompanied youth with a written explanation, including the right to appeal.


Question: In the past transportation was provided to the school of origin or when it would be provided to other students in the same area, for the duration of homelessness.  What is a possible change to transportation requirements for students qualifying under McKinney Vento?

Answer: Transportation may be required to the end of the school year if needed and is in the best interest for the student to remain in that school.


Question: What new three new groups of students may require transportation assistance under the McKinney Vento amendments?

Answer: 1) Pre-school (now included in the definition of school of origin)
2) Students who were homeless but now have housing, until the end of the school year.
3) Students moving into a feeder school (also now considered school of origin)


AWARENESS

Question: Who should be trained in the McKinney-Vento law, the rights of students experiencing homelessness and your districts policy and procedures regarding these students?
Answer: The Homeless Liaison, all enrollment staff, pupil service staff, teachers and all other school employees who may identify students as homeless.  The law also requires school districts to reach out to community agencies and inform them about the law and procedures for referring students who may qualify for services.

Question: How can you ensure that parents are aware of their rights under McKinney-Vento?
Answer: Display posters in all schools; have brochures available in parent centers or offices; put information in school newsletters, on district website and in district publications.  Put up displays at district and school events, resource fairs and back to school events.  Organize fund raisers or drives to increase awareness. Reach out to community organizations: provide them with training, brochures, posters, etc.

Question: How can the Homeless Liaison help teachers be sensitive to the issues children face when they are homeless?
Answer: Training.  
Ensure that they know how to access services such as school supplies, funds to waive fees and referrals.
Supply with information regarding the common signs of homelessness and how to have a trauma sensitive classroom.


Question: What new word was added to McKinney Vento?

Children and youth in homeless situations are identified by school personnel through _______________ and coordination with other entities and agencies.



Answer: outreach 


Question: How can Homeless Liaisons find out more about the McKinney-Vento law, the definitions and responsibilities?
Answer: Visit the websites listed on your agenda: watch the webinars, read the briefs, send for the free materials;
Call Kristine or Susan at DPI;
Consult with colleagues: Cathy, Jessica, the person sitting next to you