S UPPORTING THE E DUCATION OF U NACCOMPANIED H OMELESS S TUDENTS Lynne Weise M.Ed/PPW Homeless Liaison Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION OF

UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS STUDENTS

Lynne Weise M.Ed/PPWHomeless Liaison

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

STEP 1: WHO IS HOMELESS?

Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing,

economic hardship, or similar reason (“doubling up”) Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to

the lack of adequate alternative accommodations Living in emergency or transitional shelters

Awaiting foster care placement Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to

live Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard

housing, bus or train stations, or a similar settingMigratory children living in the above circumstancesUnaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances

Does NOT match HUD’s definition

STEP 1: WHO IS HOMELESS?

STEP 2: WHO IS UNACCOMPANIED?

According to the McKinney-Vento Act, an unaccompanied homeless student is a child or youth “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”

The Act refers to physical custody, not legal custody; in practical terms, this usually means that the student is living apart from his/her parent(s) or guardian(s)

AGE LIMIT?

“Age limits”Lower: There is no lower age limit for

unaccompanied homeless youthUpper: The upper age limit (as with all McKinney-

Vento eligible students) in Maryland is the upper age limit for public education; this is usually 21 for special education

April 22 count = 187 total enrolled for SY 2012/13

“BUT, THE STUDENT CHOSE TO LEAVE…”

A youth can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was asked to leave the home or “chose” to leave

Sometimes there is “more than meets the eye” for youth’s home life situations

WOULD YOU?

If your family life was problematic, would you disclose this information in detail to a person you are just

meeting?

Unaccompanied homeless students and/or parents may or may not wish to discuss or feel comfortable sharing

issues occurring in their home life.Fear of being “taken” away

THE SCHOOL’S CHARGE

Schools first and foremost are educational agenciesThe school’s primary responsibility and goal is to enroll

and educate, in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act (federal); federal law supersedes state and local law

Schools do not need to understand and/or agree with all aspects of a student’s home life to educate him/her

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS

Plyler v. Doe: Undocumented students are eligible for McKinney-Vento services to the same extent as documented students; this would include undocumented unaccompanied homeless students

DEMOGRAPHICS

Source: Homeless Youth in the United States: Recent Research Findings and Intervention Approaches, http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/homelessness/symposium07/toro/index.htm

Multiple studies estimate that 1+ million youth ages 12-17 will become homeless unaccompanied homeless youth each year

Show a disproportionate representation of minority ethnic groups, GLBT youth, and pregnant/parenting teens

Generally aged 13 or older, but can be younger

PATHS TO BEING“ON YOUR OWN”

Longstanding patterns of family conflict: blended family issues, pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, alcohol/drug use

Abuse and/or neglect within the homeParental incarceration, substance abuse, illness,

hospitalization, or deathHuman trafficking?

PATHS TO BEING“ON YOUR OWN” (CONT)

Foster care issues: running away from a foster care placement, aging out of the foster care system; significant correlation between involvement with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult

Some students become homeless with their families, but end up on their own due to lack of space in temporary accommodations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys

SCENARIO

Jeremy, a senior in high school, shows up at your school by himself wanting to enroll. He says he left home because his stepdad is a jerk and he can’t stand living with him anymore. He is currently living with his grandmother, but isn’t sure if he can stay long.Is Jeremy homeless?Is Jeremy unaccompanied?Other questions?

BARRIERS TO EDUCATION

Lack of stable housing (affects access to bathing facilities, laundry facilities, etc.)

Lack of a parent or guardian (support, guidance, signing, etc.)

Lack of school records and other paperworkEmotional crisis / Mental health issues/PTSDEmployment: Many are self-supporting and have to

balance school and work

BARRIERS TO EDUCATION (CONT)

Lack of transportationLack of school supplies, clothingFatigue, poor health, hunger (difficulty meeting basic

needs)Credit accrual policies, attendance policiesConcerns about being apprehended by authorities

RIGHTS FOR ALL HOMELESS STUDENTS

Immediate enrollment, even if lacking paperwork normally required

School selection: Local attendance area school or school of origin, according to the student’s best interest

Transportation to/from the school of originComparable services, including transportation

RIGHTS FOR ALL HOMELESS RIGHTS FOR ALL HOMELESS STUDENTS STUDENTS (CONT)(CONT)

Access to educational programs for which they are eligible (Title IA, IDEA, ELL, migrant education, vocational/technical education, gifted and talented, etc.)

Free school meals (USDA’s Child Nutrition Act)

SPECIFIC M-V PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS

STUDENTSEnrollment without proof of guardianshipAssistance from the local liaison in selecting a school of

attendance and enrollingAssistance from the local liaison in receiving transportation to

the school of originCan initiate the dispute resolution process for himself/herselfAssistance from the local liaison in resolving any disputes that

arise

SPECIFIC M-V PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS STUDENTS

(CONT)

Student receives written notice in disputesMcKinney-Vento subgrant application consideration: the extent

to which case management or related services will be provided to unaccompanied homeless students

Authorized use of subgrant funds: “The provision of services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youths, and unaccompanied homeless youths, in public school programs and services provided to nonhomeless children and youths”

SPECIFIC IDEA PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS

STUDENTSSurrogate Parents

SEA “must make reasonable efforts” to appoint within 30 daysAre considered the unaccompanied homeless youth’s parent

for special education purposesCannot be an employee of the SEA, LEA, or any other agency

involved in the education or care of the childMust have no personal or professional interests in conflict

with the interest of the childMust have the necessary knowledge and skills

SPECIFIC IDEA PROVISIONS ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS STUDENTS

(CONT)

Temporary Surrogate Parents Appointed immediately Staff of shelters, independent living programs, and street outreach

programs, and qualified school personnel (including local liaisons) that are involved in the education or care of the child may be appointed as temporary surrogate parents

Must have no personal or professional interests in conflict with the interest of the child

Must have the necessary knowledge and skillsRights transfer to the student upon the student

reaching the age of majority

“OTHER STUFF”

Consider state-specific issues: Reporting, medical consent, etc.

FERPA: Parental consent is not required for transfer of records to an enrolling school

General liability concerns: The relationship between liability and negligence

SCENARIO

Remember Jeremy? He couldn’t get along with his stepfather and is living temporarily with his grandmother. Two days after your school enrolled him, his mom calls insisting that the school force Jeremy to come home and threatens to sue the school if you don’t disenroll Jeremy immediately.Would you disenroll Jeremy?How would you respond?Other questions?

ENROLLMENT STRATEGIES

US ED Guidance: “Develop caregiver affidavits, enrollment forms for unaccompanied homeless youth, and other forms to replace typical proof of guardianship. Again, such forms should be carefully crafted so they do not create further barriers or delay enrollment”

July 2004 Policy Guidance, Question G-8

ENROLLMENT REMINDERS

A school district can not require a caregiver to obtain legal guardianship at any point prior to or following an unaccompanied homeless student’s enrollment

A school district can not discontinue a student’s enrollment due to an inability to identify a caregiver, guardian, or parent following enrollment or to produce guardianship or other paperwork

Provide access to diversified learning opportunities (vocational education, credit-for-work programs, flexible school hours, etc.) yet don’t assume youth will need or desire this option

Provide before- or after-school supportPermit exceptions to school policies on class schedules,

tardiness, absences and credits to accommodate the needs of unaccompanied homeless youth

Assist with credit accrual and recovery (chunking credits, partial credits, flexible school hours, etc.)

Provide access to a “safe place” and trained mentor at school

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

GENDER

GRADE LEVEL

ETHNICITY

HIGH SCHOOL GRADES

A/B 38C 26D 16Failing 16DropOut 22

Total 118