Title X Mc Kinney-Vento Homeless Education Mississippi Department

Title X, Mc. Kinney-Vento Homeless Education Mississippi Department of Education Office of Innovative Support Homeless Request for Proposal (RFP) Webinar June 15, 2010 1

Agenda n n n n Targeted Population Local Homeless Liaison Responsibilities Key Provisions of the Mc. Kinney-Vento Homeless Education Act Homeless Unaccompanied Youth Segregation Title I and Homelessness Allowable Services Request for Proposal (RFP) Instructions FY-11 RFP Selection Criteria Timeline Resources Announcements Question & Answers Contact Information 2

Introduction The Mississippi Department of Education receives funds under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to provide activities and services to homeless children, including preschool children and homeless youth, that enable such children and youth to enroll, attend, and succeed in school. 3

Targeted Population n Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence-Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason -Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations -Living in emergency or transitional shelters -Abandoned in hospitals -Awaiting foster care placement -Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live -Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, etc. -Migratory children living in above circumstances. 4

Unaccompanied Youth n n n Youth who meet the definition of homeless and are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Liaisons must help unaccompanied youth choose and enroll in a school, after considering the youth’s wishes, and inform the youth of his or her appeal rights. School personnel must be made aware of the specific needs of runaway and homeless youth.

Unaccompanied Youth Strategies n n Revise LEA policies to accommodate unaccompanied youth and comply with the Mc. Kinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Train local liaisons and all school enrollment staff, secretaries, guidance counselors, principals, and teachers on the definition, rights, and needs of unaccompanied youth. Develop caretaker forms, self-enrollment forms for unaccompanied youth, and other forms to replace typical proof of guardianship; such forms should be crafted carefully so they do not create further barriers or delay enrollment. Be familiar with state and local policies related to unaccompanied youth.

Preschool - Strategies n n n Keep slots open for homeless students Provide awareness training for preschool providers Collaborate with preschools not operated by the LEA (including Head Start) Ask parents about preschool-aged children when they enroll their school-aged children in school Coordinate with IDEA Child Find

Local Homeless Education Liaisons n n Every LEA must designate a liaison for students in homeless situations 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 -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 8

Mc. Kinney-Vento Act Key Provisions School Stability Children 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 Best Interest-keep homeless students in their schools of origin, to the extent feasible, unless this is against the parents’ or guardians' wishes n School Selection Students can stay in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing If a student becomes homeless in between academic years, he or she may continue in the school of origin for the following academic year If a student is sent to a school other than that requested by a parent or guardian, the district must provide a written explanation to the parent or guardian of its decision and the right to appeal n 9

Key Provisions (cont. ) Transportation LEAs must provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to and from their school of origin, at a parent’s or guardian’s request (or at the liaisons request for unaccompanied youth) If the student’s temporary residence and the school of origin are in the same LEA, that LEA must provide or arrange transportation; if the student is living outside the school of origin ‘s LEA, the LEA must determine how to divide the responsibility and share the cost, or they must share the cost equally n In addition to providing transportation to the school of origin, LEAs must provide students in homeless situations with transportation services comparable to those provided to other students School district must eliminate barriers to the school enrollment and retention of students experiencing homelessness (including transportation barriers) 10

Resolution of Disputes Key Provision n n n Every LEA must establish dispute resolution procedures When a dispute over enrollment arises, the student must be admitted immediately to the school of choice while the dispute is being resolved Liaisons must ensure unaccompanied youth are enrolled immediately while the dispute is being resolved Whenever a dispute arises, the parent or guardian must be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision, including the right to appeal The school must refer the child, youth, parent, or guardian to the liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as expeditiously as possible Documentation should be kept for all local liaison interventions with parents-not just formal disputes (NCLB) 11

Segregation n LEAs are prohibited from segregating homeless students in separate schools, separate programs within schools, or separate settings within schools SEAs and LEAs must adopt policies and practices to ensure that homeless children and youth are not segregated or stigmatized on the basis of their status as homeless Services provided with Mc. Kinney-Vento funds must not replace the regular academic program and must be designed to expand upon or improve services provided as part of the school’s regular academic program 12

Title I and Homelessness Key Provisions n n A child or youth who is homeless and is attending any school in the district is automatically eligible for Title I-A services. LEAs must reserve (or set aside) funds as are necessary to provide services comparable to those provided to children in Title I-A schools to serve homeless children who do not attend participating schools, including providing educational support services to children in shelters and other locations where homeless children may live. 13

Strategies for Determining the Title I Set-Aside Amount n n Review needs and costs involved in serving homeless students in the current year and project for the following year. Multiply the number of homeless students by the Title I-A per pupil allocation. For districts with subgrants, reserve an amount greater than or equal to the Mc. Kinney-Vento subgrant funding request. Reserve a percentage based on the district’s poverty level or total Title I-A allocation. 14

Allowable Services by LEAs Using Mc. Kinney Funds Services may be provided through programs on school grounds or at other facilities; these programs and/or services shall not replace the regular academic program and shall be designed to expand upon or improve services provided as part of the school’s regular academic programs. n These allowable services can be found at http: //www. mde. k 12. ms. us/innovative_suppor t/Title. XHomeless_allowableservices. html n

FY 11 Request for Proposal INSTRUCTIONS n n n Complete and submit the proposal package (pages 6 -19) Submit complete proposal package on or before 3: 00 p. m. , July 13, 2010 Submit one original copy of the written application and an electronic copy saved to a CD in a “read only” PDF format Do not fax or email proposals Submit proposals to: Office of Procurement Attn: Ms. Lorraine Wince Mississippi Department of Education Central High School Building 359 North West Street-Suite 307 Jackson, MS 39201 16

FY 11 -RFP Selection Criteria Local Educational Needs n Indicate the number of Homeless students identified for 2009 -2010. The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is pleased to announce its newest publication, Educating Homeless Children and Youth: Conducting Needs Assessments and Evaluating Services - A Guide for SEAs, LEAs, and Local Schools, available for downloading at http: //center. serve. org/nche/pr/na_eval. php n 17

FY-11 Selection Criteria Program Goals and Objectives National Standards and Indicators for Quality. This powerpoint is a valuable tool to aid LEAs in ensuring your program has measurable goal and objectives. http: //center. serve. org/nche/downloads/ tr_pres/st_and_ind. ppt n 18

FY-11 Selection Criteria Collaboration/Coordination n This report explores collaborative efforts of schools and social service agencies working with homeless children and families. The report identifies frequently encountered barriers and successful strategies to overcome them. It examines specific programs and practices that could be adapted effectively for use in similar settings by school-level educators, local homeless liaisons, social service workers, and other personnel who work in any capacity with homeless students. http: //center. serve. org/nche/downloads/collab_school _social. pdf 19

FY-11 Selection Criteria Dispute Resolution Procedures n Subtitle VII-B of the Mc. Kinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized by Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. This brief explains the key provisions of the Act dealing with disputes over the enrollment and provision of services to a child or youth experiencing homelessness; it also offers strategies for implementing the law in a school district. http: //center. serve. org/nche/downloads/briefs/resoluti on. pdf 20

Strategies for Implementation Disputes n n n n n A process for resolving disputes should be available at the district level. A state-level appeal process, involving State Coordinators for Homeless Education, should be available for appeals from district-level decisions. Local liaisons need to be familiar with the dispute resolution process outlined in the State Educational Agency’s state plan for homeless education; a copy of the state dispute resolution process can be obtained by contacting the State Coordinator for Homeless Education. States should establish timelines for resolving disputes at the local and state level. The dispute resolution process should be as informal and accessible as possible, consistent with impartial and complete the review. Parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth should be able to initiate the dispute resolution process directly at the school in which they are requesting enrollment, as well as at the school district or local homeless education liaison’s office. Parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth should be informed that they can provide written or oral documentation to support their position. Parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth should be informed that they can seek the assistance of advocates or attorneys. Students should be provided with all services for which they are eligible while disputes are resolved, consistent with the definition of “enrollment. ” Enrollment is defined in the Mc. Kinney-Vento Act as “attending classes and participating fully in school activities”. 21

Strategies for Implementation (Cont. ) Disputes n n n Written notice should be complete; as brief as possible; simply stated; and provided in a language the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth can understand. When inter-district issues arise, representatives from all involved districts should be present to resolve the dispute. Written notice should include: Contact information for the local homeless education liaison and the State Coordinator for Homeless Education, with a brief description of their roles A simple, detachable form that parents, guardians, or unaccompanied youth can complete and turn in to the school to initiate the dispute resolution process; the school should copy the form and return the copy to the parent, guardian, or youth for their records when it is submitted. A step-by-step description of how to dispute the school’s decision Notice of the right to enroll immediately in the requested school pending resolution of the dispute Notice that “immediate enrollment” includes full participation in all school activities Notice of the right to obtain the assistance of advocates or attorneys Notice of the right to appeal to the state if the district-level resolution is not satisfactory Timelines for resolving district- and state-level appeals A sample Written Notification of Enrollment Decision form is available in Appendix D of NCHE’s Local Homeless Education Liaison Toolkit at http: //www. serve. org/nche/ downloads/toolkit/app_d. pdf. 22

FY-11 Description of Services n Address each authorized activity that pertains to your program plan to accomplish the needs assessment, goals, and objectives. 23

FY-11 Budget Narrative n Using the Budget Narrative Template (page 11), give a detailed description of budgeted expenditures in the amount of $25, 000. (Note: This amount does not reflect the final allocation. Upon approval of the proposal by the State Board of Education, the district will be required to submit a revised budget narrative reflecting the final allocation). 24

Signature Page Please submit pages 6 -19 n Please ensure signatures and dates from: 1. School Board President 2. Superintendent 3. Federal Programs Director n 25

Appendices n Please pay attention to appendices A-J. This information lends itself as a great resource to districts seeking a successful request for Mc. Kinney-Vento Homeless Education funds. 26

Timeline June 1, 2010 - RFP Issued n June 15, 2010 - Technical Assistance Webinar for Potential Grantees n July 13, 2010 - RFP Due by 3: 00 p. m. n July 26 -30, 2010 - Evaluation of Proposals n September 2010 - Board Approval. Grants Awarded to LEAs n 27

State Monitoring Program Evaluation n n Mc. Kinney-Vento grantees will be monitored on an annual bases. All Mississippi public school districts will be monitored for compliance with the Title X, Mc. Kinney -Vento Homeless Education Act during their Consolidated Federal Programs monitoring visit. Please visit the MDE’s Consolidated Monitoring Instrument. http: //www. mde. k 12. ms. us/innovative_support/monit oring/Monitoring_Instrument_Oct_9_2009. DOC 28

Resources National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth http: //www. naehcy. org National Center on Homeless Education http: //www. serve. org/nche National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty http: //www. nlchp. org National Network for Youth http: //www. nn 4 youth. org Horizons for Homeless Children http: //www. horizonsforhomelesschildren. org Mississippi Department of Education http: //www. mde. k 12. ms. us/innovative_support/Title. XHomeless. html Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – http: //www. ed. gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index. html 29

Announcements n The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Annual Conference is scheduled for November 6 -9, 2010 in Houston, Texas for more information visit http: //www. naehcy. org/conf_2010. html n The Mississippi Department of Education Homeless Education program hopes to host the 2010 Homeless Education Conference in August. More information is forth coming.

Q&A QUESTIONS 31

Contact Information Kelsey Blumenberg State Coordinator Homeless Education 601 -359 -3499 Central High School Building 359 North West Street-Ste, 111 P. O. Box 771 Jackson, MS 39205 -0771 www. mde. k 12. ms. us keblumenberg@mde. k 12. ms. us Tollie Thigpen Division Director Special Populations 601 -359 -3499 Central High School Building 359 North West Street-Ste-111 P. O. Box 771 Jackson, MS 39205 -0771 www. mde. k 12. ms. us tthigpen@mde. k 12. ms. us 32