mckinney-vento wisconsin statistics on homelessness ... · state co-coordinators education for...

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Kristine Nadolski & Susan PiazzaState Co-Coordinators Education for Homeless Children and Youth ProgramWisconsin Department of Public Instruction

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Act

Wisconsin Statistics on Homelessness

• 16,709 children were identified as homeless in Wisconsin public school districts during the 2012-13 school year.

• 19,471 children were identified as homeless in the 2013-14 school year.

• It is important to note that these numbers only reflect identified students enrolled in public schools, therefore, the actual number of children and youth experiencing homelessness in Wisconsin is presumably much higher.

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The McKinney-Vento ActEducation for Homeless Children and Youth

• Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; reauthorized by Title X, Part C of ESEA

• Main themes of the McKinney-Vento Act– School access– School stability– Support for academic success– Child-centered, best-interest decision making– Role of the local homeless education liaison

Barriers to Education for Children and Youth in Homeless Situations

• Enrollment requirements (residency, school records, immunizations, legal guardianship)

• High mobility resulting in lack of school stability and education continuity

• Lack of access to programs• Lack of transportation• Lack of school supplies, clothing, etc.• Poor health, fatigue, hunger• Prejudice and misunderstanding

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Homelessness Defined

The term “homeless” children and youth means:

“Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence—”

So, what exactly is a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence?

Fixed, Regular, and Adequate

• Fixed:– Stationary, permanent, not subject to change

• Regular:– Used on a predictable, routine, consistent basis– Consider the relative permanence

• Adequate:– Lawfully and reasonably sufficient– Sufficient for meeting the physical and psychological

needs typically met in a home environment

Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a SAFE AND

SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

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Eligibility as defined by the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act

Common homeless living situations defined as homeless include:• Sharing the housing of others due to loss of

housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (sometimes referred to as doubled-up)

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters• Awaiting foster care placement

Eligibility as defined by the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act

• Living in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used, as a regular sleeping accommodation for humans

• Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, etc.

• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above

• Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances

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Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

• Definition: Youth who meet the definition of homeless AND are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. (e.g. youth living with relatives on an emergency basis, youth living with a friend, or runaway)

• Regardless of housing status (homeless vs. permanently housed), liaisons must help unaccompanied youth choose and enroll in a school.

• School personnel must be made aware of the specific needs of runaway and homeless youth.

Homeless Liaison - Responsibilities

• Every LEA must designate a liaison for students experiencing homelessness.

• Who is the Homeless Liaison in your district?• Responsibilities

– Ensure that children and youth in homeless situations are identified.

– Ensure that students experiencing homelessness are IMMEDIATELY enrolled in and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.

– Link students experiencing homelessness with educational services, including preschool and health services.

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Homeless Liaisons – Responsibilities

• Inform parents, guardians, or unaccompanied youth of educational and parent involvement opportunities.

• Post public notice of McKinney-Vento educational rights.

• Ensure that disputes are resolved promptly.• Inform parents, guardians, or unaccompanied

youth of transportation services, including to the school of origin.

Access to Services• Students who experience homelessness must

have access to educational services for which they are eligible, including special education, programs for English language learners, gifted and talented programs, vocational technology programs, and school nutrition programs.

• Undocumented children and youth have the same right to attend public school as U.S. citizens and are covered by the McKinney-Vento Act to the same extent as other children and youth. (Plyler v. Doe)

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Access to Services (cont.)

• USDA policy permits liaisons and shelter directors to obtain free school meals for students by providing a list of names of students experiencing homelessness with effective dates.

• The 2004 reauthorization of IDEA includes amendments that reinforce timely assessment, inclusion, and continuity of services for homeless children and youth who have disabilities.

Other Services and Supports

• In addition to access to educational programs, homeless students are eligible for additional services and supports, including:– School supplies– Fee waivers– Tutoring programs– Before/After school programs– Referral to community and social services– Transportation to/from the school of origin– Title I, Part A services and supports

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Identification Strategies• Provide awareness activities for school staff.

(registrars, secretaries, counselors, social workers, nurses, teachers, bus drivers, administrators, etc.)

• Coordinate with community service agencies, such as shelters, meal programs, drop-in centers, public assistance and housing agencies, and public health departments.

• Provide outreach materials and posters where there is a frequent influx of low-income families and youth in high-risk situations, including motels and campgrounds.

• Educate school staff about “warning signs” that may indicate an enrolled child or youth may be experiencing homelessness.

Immediate Enrollment

Students experiencing homelessness are entitled to immediate enrollment (defined as attending and fully participating in school) even if they do not have:

– School records,– Medical records including immunization records, – Proof of residency,– Guardianship papers,– Birth certificate, or other documents normally needed.

After enrollment, the homeless liaison will assist the parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth in obtaining necessary documents.

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School Selection

• Students experiencing homelessness may attend either:– The local attendance area school:

• Any public school that students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend.

– The school of origin:• The school the child or youth attended when

permanently housed; or• The school in which the child or youth was last

enrolled.

School Selection• Best interest: Keep students experiencing

homelessness in their school of origin, to the extent feasible, unless this is against the parent’s, guardian’s, or unaccompanied youth’s wishes.

• Students may continue attending the school of origin the entire time they are homeless, and until the end of any school year in which they move into permanent housing.

• Students who become homeless and do not find permanent housing in between school years may continue attending the school of origin for the following school year.

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School of Origin—Key Provisions

• School of origin has to do with school stability, not feeder school pattern.

• A student transitioning from one grade level building (e.g. elementary to middle) does not have a legal right under McKinney-Vento to attend the feeder school based on the use of the word “school” of origin, rather than “district” of origin.

• Districts may use discretion depending on case by case scenarios.

Why is it so important for a child to stay in the school of origin?

• It is a “rule of thumb” that it takes a child four to six months to recover academically after changing schools.

• High mobility impedes students’ academic and social growth.

• Highly mobile students frequently fare poorly on standardized tests.

• Therefore, the default position is that remaining in the school of origin is in students’ best interests.

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Transportation

• Districts must transport homeless students to and from the school of origin, at a parent’s or guardian’s request (or at the liaison’s request for unaccompanied youth).

• If the student’s temporary residence and the school of origin are in the same district, that district must arrange transportation.

• If the student is living outside the district of origin, the district where the student is living and the district of origin must determine how to divide the responsibility and cost, or they must share the responsibility and cost equally.

Transportation• Districts may consider other

safe transportation options besides school busses, in keeping with state and local pupil transportation guidelines.

• Consult with pupil transportation directors about transportation options.

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Transportation Feasibility Factors

To be considered• Age

• Safety

• Length of stay at the shelter

• Need for special instructional programs

• Impact of commute on education

Not to be considered• Time

• Distance

• Cost

Transportation Strategies

• Re-route school buses.• Add to existing bus route (including special education).• Provide passes for public transportation.• Reimburse parents or unaccompanied youth for gas.

– For a sample gas reimbursement agreement, see:– http://homeless.dpi.wi.gov/hmls_forms

• In cross district cases, homeless liaisons collaborate to determine appropriate and cost effective arrangements.

• Use approved taxi or van services.

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Comparable Transportation

Districts must provide homeless students with services comparable to those offered to other students in the school, including transportation.

Resolution of Disputes

When a dispute over enrollment arises, the student must be admitted immediately to the school of choice and receive all services, including transportation, while the dispute is being resolved.

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The Title I, Part A Set-aside

• Districts must set aside Title I, Part A funds (or use local or state funds) to:– Serve students experiencing homelessness not

attending Title I schools.– Provide services comparable to those provided to

children attending Title I schools.• Districts may provide students experiencing

homelessness with services that are not ordinarily provided to other Title I permanently housed students and are not available from other sources.

Permissible Title I, Part A Funding:• Used only when not available from other sources – supplement not

supplant…• Partial list:

• Clothing/shoes (school uniform/dress code/gym uniform)• Cap and Gown• Fees to participate in the general education program• School supplies• Birth certificates necessary to enroll in school• Medical/dental services (glasses, hearing aids, immunizations)• Counseling for issues affecting learning• Outreach services to students living in shelters, motels, and

other temporary residences• Extended learning time or tutoring support• Activities/services supporting parent involvement• Transportation to supplementary educational opportunities,

such as after school tutoring programs

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Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014

Signed into law on January 17, 2014. Included two policy changes regarding serving children and youth experiencing homelessness with Title I:

1) Funds may be used to provide transportation to the school of origin by offsetting the excess cost of transporting children and youth experiencing homelessness to/from the school of origin.

“Excess Cost”There is no official guidance regarding excess cost of transportation. LEAs may consider the following to be excess cost:• calculating a per pupil amount for transportation when

rerouting a school bus, including special transportation, provided by State and local funds and determining the additional cost to be excess

• using taxicabs• private shuttle busses• gas cards• reimbursing for mileage

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Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014

2) Fund all or part of the homeless liaison’s salary, even if that person has no Title I duties.

• Governs the spending of FY2014 Title I dollars, and FY2012 and FY2013 Title I carryover funds.

• This is currently only for 14-15 funds. More information will be coming regarding school year 15-16.

Subgrants - Wisconsin• Services provided

with McKinney-Vento grant 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.

• Appleton Area School District• Ashwaubenon School District• Beloit School District• CESA 3• Fond Du Lac School District• Janesville School District• Jefferson School District• Kenosha Unified School District• La Crosse School District• Madison Metropolitan School

District• Marinette School District• Milwaukee Public Schools• Racine Unified School District• Sheboygan Area School District• West Allis-West Milwaukee School

District

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What Can You Do?

• Collaborate with your district homeless liaison.

• Provide immediate transportation services to homeless children and youth.

• Review district transportation policies to ensure they do not create barriers for homeless students.

• Get creative with transportation options.

Helpful Resources

• National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) (800) 308-2145 http://serve.org/nche

• National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) (202) 638-2535 http://www.nlchp.org

• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) (202) 364-7392 http://www.naehcy.org

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Contact InformationKristine Nadolski, Wisconsin DPI EHCY [email protected]

Susan Piazza, Wisconsin DPI EHCY [email protected]

WI DPI EHCY Program website www.dpi.wi.gov/homeless/

Thank You

Homeless Education Network of Dane County HENDC 2014

MMSD Transition Education Program (608) 204-6826 Adapted from St. Paul Public School Title-I Homeless Program, 2009.

TIPS FOR BUS AND TAXI DRIVERS WHEN TRANSPORTING STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESNESS

Children experiencing homelessness may have a history of attending many schools and erratic attendance and tardiness. They may also demonstrate hostility and anger or extremes in behavior or show signs of shyness, withdrawal, nervousness, depression, needy behavior such as attention-seeking or withdrawn behavior. Homeless children may have inadequate or inappropriate clothing for the weather, and resistance to parting with personal items. Homelessness and shelter living consists of many “unknowns.” After having settled into a shelter, a family may move without notifying transportation, the school or the homeless liaison. The family shelters in Madison may include one night, 45 night and 90 night stays. Doubled-up families are eligible as homeless under McKinney-Vento. There are a variety of living situations and a variety of families sharing housing. Homelessness is a trauma and a crisis which may be immediate or chronic. Parents are stressed even if they appear to be calm and coping well. Please be patient with their concerns. Because of shelter rules and the general mobility of homeless students, these students move frequently and bus routes can change daily. Flexibility is essential. You may be the first contact that the student has with our school district. If new to your route, it may be helpful to have the student sit near you on the bus. Depending on the age of the student, they may be nervous and need some reassurance that he/she is on the right bus. They need to know where to get on and off the ride and what the pick-up and drop off times are. Older children may indicate they are embarrassed about being identified as being homeless or riding a bus picking up at a shelter. Use patience with the students. Most likely, they are meeting new challenges each day within their living situation. These students often feel they have no control over anything in their life. Everything they do in their lives is “new” to them. You may be the first to learn that a student may be moving. If you are aware of this, please contact transportation and they will contact the homeless liaison who can confirm or deny this information.

The homeless liaison urges parents to be responsible for calling transportation or their school if the family moves. There are situations when this does not occur. We also tell the parents to call if their child is ill or doesn’t need the bus. We want you to know that we try our best to encourage smooth transitions.

Who is homeless?

(McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – Title X, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – Sec 725)

The term “homeless children and youth”—

A. means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence…; and

B. includes —

1. children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

2. 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…

3. children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

4. migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

National Center for Homeless EducationSupporting the Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessnesswww.serve.org/nche

Transporting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

This brief explains the provisions of Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 11431-11435, hereafter referred to as The McKinney-Vento Act), related to the transportation of children and youth experiencing homelessness and offers strategies for implementing the law. Briefs on additional homeless education topics are available at http://center.serve.org/nche/briefs.php.

Changing schools may greatly impede the academic achievement and social development of students experiencing homelessness. Students who transfer to a new school often experience educational discontinuity and, as a result, lose academic credits. Moreover, the mobility experienced by these students separates them from their social network and from teachers and school staff who know their academic strengths and weaknesses. Coupled with the distress caused by the loss of housing, and the economic strain that often accompanies this, changing schools puts homeless students at risk of academic failure. Research studies have demonstrated a link between high mobility due to homelessness and poor school performance.

Transporting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness 2

(Cunningham, Harwood, & Hall, 2010; Obradović et al., 2009).

School of Origin Transportation

To counteract the educational disruption caused by mobility, the McKinney-Vento Act provides students experiencing homelessness with the right to continue attending the school of origin1 or enroll in any public school that nonhomeless students who live in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to the student’s best interest. When determining a student’s best interest, the U.S. Department of Education suggests considering the following feasibility factors in its 2004 Guidance (U.S. Department of Education [ED], 2004, G-4):

The age of the child or youth;

The distance of a commute and the impact it may have on the student’s education;

Personal safety issues;

A student’s need for special instruction (e.g., special education and related services);

The length of anticipated stay in a temporary shelter or other temporary location; and

The time remaining in the school year.

It also is important to consider the wishes of the parent/guardian and student himself or herself.

If the local liaison and student’s parent/guardian determine that it is in the student’s best interest to continue his or her education in the school of origin, then the LEA must provide or arrange

1 School of origin is defined as the school that the child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(G)].

Local homeless education liaisons must ensure that the parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth, or any unaccompanied homeless youth, is fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to and from the school of origin, and is assisted in accessing transportation to the school selected in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(A) [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(6)(A)(vii)].

Local educational agencies (LEAs) must provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to and from their schools of origin, if requested by a parent or guardian, or if requested by the local liaison on behalf of an unaccompanied homeless youth [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)( J)(iii)].

If the student’s temporary residence and the school of origin are in the same LEA, that LEA must provide or arrange the student’s transportation to and from the school of origin. If the student is living outside of the school of origin’s LEA, the LEA where the student is staying and the school of origin’s LEA must determine how to divide the responsibility and cost of providing transportation, or they must share the responsibility and cost equally [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)( J)(iii)(II)].

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 [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(4)(A)].

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transportation to and from the school of origin, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied homeless youth, at the request of the local liaison). For more information about school selection and determining a student’s best interest, download NCHE’s Guiding the Discussion on School Selection brief at http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/sch_sel_checklist.pdf.

Comparable Services

The McKinney-Vento Act also requires that homeless students be provided services comparable to those offered to other students in the school, including transportation [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(4)(A)].

Removal of Barriers

The intent of the McKinney-Vento Act is to remove roadblocks to a homeless student’s educational access and success. According to the Act, State educational agencies (SEAs) must review and take steps to revise any law, regulation, practice, or policy that may act as a barrier to a homeless student’s ability to receive the same free, appropriate public education as is provided to other students [42 U.S.C. § 11431(2)]. In reviewing and revising such policies, consideration must be given to issues concerning transportation. Because homeless students often experience challenges not faced by housed students, the provision of services to homeless students may need to extend beyond what is provided to housed students when extraordinary barriers exist.

Prompt Provision of Transportation

According to the McKinney-Vento Act, LEAs are required to implement a coordinated system to ensure that transportation services are provided promptly, including those that allow the parent/guardian of each homeless student (or, in the case of an unaccompanied homeless youth, the youth) to exercise the student’s option to attend either the school of origin or the local attendance area school [42 U.S.C. § 11432(e)

(3)(E)(i)(III)]. Further, because the Act requires homeless students to be provided immediate school enrollment, defined as attending classes and participating fully in school activities [42 U.S.C. § 11434a(1)], LEAs must arrange transportation without delay.

LEA Transportation or General Funds

Providing transportation to and from the school of origin for homeless students when requested is an LEA responsibility mandated in the McKinney-Vento Act. This responsibility exists for all LEAs, even if the LEA does not provide transportation for other students (ED, 2004, H-6) and/or does not receive McKinney-Vento subgrant funding (ED, 2004, H-7). As such, using LEA transportation or general funds to provide transportation for homeless students is an acceptable, and often necessary, option.

McKinney-Vento Subgrant Funds

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, SEAs must distribute a portion of their State McKinney-Vento allocation to districts through a competitive subgrant process. According to the Act, LEAs that receive a subgrant may use these funds to “defray the excess cost” of providing transportation to students experiencing homelessness [42 U.S.C. § 11433(d)(5)]. While the law does not define this phrase, the expectation is that the LEA will cover the same level of cost for transporting homeless students as is covered for other students before relying on subgrant funds.

As a best practice, SEA McKinney-Vento subgrant applications should require LEAs to state what portion of the grant, if received, would be allocated for transportation. It is important to remember that subgrants are intended to meet a range of needs for homeless students, not just transportation needs. For questions about the McKinney-Vento subgrant application process


in your State and allowable usages of subgrant funds, contact your State Coordinator for Homeless Education. State Coordinator contact information may be accessed at http://center.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php.

Title I, Part A Funds

On December 16, 2014, the President signed into law the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83), the omnibus funding bill for FY2015. The Act, which governs the usage of FY2015 funds, and carryover funds from fiscal years 2013 and 2014, reauthorizes the authority for Title I, Part A funds to be used to pay for the salary of the local homeless education liaison and school-of-origin transportation for homeless children and youth that was first authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014. For more information, including a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter that provides implementation guidance for SEAs and LEAs, visit http://center.serve.org/nche/legis/omnibus.php.

In addition, according to Non-Regulatory Guidance, Title I, Part A set-aside funds for homeless students may be used for other transportation needs for homeless students, such as transportation to enable a homeless student to

participate in an educational activity after school if transportation is not otherwise available. Title I, Part A funds can provide stability to formerly homeless students by transporting formerly homeless students to the school of origin until the end of the school year in which the students become permanently housed (ED, 2004, M-2). Title I, Part A set-aside funds also may be used to provide transportation to enable parents to be more involved in their child’s education.

For more information about using Title I funds to support the education of homeless students, download NCHE’s Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness under Title I, Part A brief at http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/titlei.pdf.

Collaboration is key to creating an efficient system of providing transportation for homeless students. Ideally, collaborative relationships are formed prior to an issue involving transportation arising.

For more information about providing transportation for students in homeless situations, download the following NCHE resources on transportation:

Increasing School Stability for Students Experiencing Homelessness: Overcoming Challenges to Providing Transportation to the School of Origin at http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/incr_sch_stab.php;

Transportation for Homeless Children and Youth: Strategies for Rural School Districts at http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/rur_trans.pdf;

NCHE Resources by Topic webpage, Transportation: http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/sc_transport.php; and

NCHE Sample Forms and Materials webpage, Transportation: http://center.serve.org/nche/forum/transp.php.

Transportation for Homeless Children and Youth:

Strategies for Rural School Districts


Collaboration among LEA Programs and Departments

Collaboration between the LEA’s homeless education and transportation programs is critical to ensuring that transportation for homeless students is provided in a prompt and efficient manner. The LEA’s transportation director should work with the local liaison, district leadership, neighboring districts, and homeless service providers to develop effective transportation policies and procedures (ED, 2004, H-4). In addition, school bus drivers should be trained on the McKinney-Vento Act’s requirements concerning homeless students. Because bus drivers are often the first and last school personnel to come into contact with students experiencing homelessness in the course of the day, they may develop supportive relationships with the students. Drivers also may assist with identifying students in homeless situations as they observe changes in when and where students are picked up or dropped off.

Many districts utilize special education buses for transporting homeless students. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) allows the use of special education buses for homeless students as long as the transportation needs of all special education students have been met.

Interdistrict Collaboration

Many homeless students cross LEA, county, and even State lines when traveling between temporary living arrangements and school. As such, coordination between LEAs is required in cases of interdistrict transportation [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(5)(A)(ii)]. In cases where it is determined to be in a student’s best interest to attend the school of origin, but the student is living in another LEA, the LEA of origin and the LEA in which the student is living must agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing transportation to and from the school of origin. If the LEAs are unable to reach an agreement, the responsibility and costs for transportation must be shared equally [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)( J)(iii)(II)]. Inter-district transportation

disputes should be resolved at the SEA level (ED, 2004, H-5). It is recommended that LEAs consult with the State Coordinator for Homeless Education to be informed about any policies or practices related to inter-district transportation that may be in place within the State.

Local liaisons and transportation directors from LEAs that share homeless students should meet regularly to plan efficient ways to arrange transportation. It is best to have a plan in place before the need for transportation arises so that barriers that might delay inter-district transportation may be addressed. These plans may come in the form of informal agreements or formal memoranda of understanding.

Community Collaboration

Local liaisons should establish cooperative relationships with community agencies that serve homeless families, youth, and children. A community-wide commitment to assist homeless families with children and unaccompanied homeless youth can result in resource sharing, including transportation resources. Many LEAs have been able to arrange transportation using shelter or other service vans. Some public transportation systems donate bus passes or other transportation services to school districts for use with homeless students. Community foundations often are willing to contribute to meeting the needs of homeless students, including transportation needs.

Collaboration with Parents

Parents who are experiencing homelessness generally appreciate being included in decisions involving the education of their child(ren), and should be part of the conversation on developing any plans for transporting their children to and from the school of origin. Moreover, parents should be provided with clear expectations for their role in carrying out the plan, such as committing to getting their children to a bus stop on time, notifying the transportation department when a child will not be attending school to avoid unnecessary trips, or following procedures for utilizing gas vouchers.


According to U.S. Department of Education Guidance, based on the best interest of the student and in consultation with the parent, the LEA ultimately determines the mode of transportation (2004, H-4); however, it is important to ensure that the mode of transportation does not create barriers to a homeless student’s education. For example, transportation arrangements should ensure that a homeless student is able to participate for the full school day, neither arriving late nor leaving before the school day has ended. Extremely early pick-up times or public bus transfers for young children also may be problematic and should be considered carefully when arranging transportation.

The mode of transportation also should not stigmatize a homeless student or betray the confidentiality of his or her living status. Bus routes, for example, should be arranged such that students staying in homeless shelters can be picked up and dropped off in such a way as not to reveal their place of temporary residence.

Convene a meeting of local liaisons and transportation directors to establish a plan that may be implemented immediately when transportation is needed for a homeless child. Addressing issues of cost, responsibility, and logistics before the need occurs will prevent delays in a homeless student’s school attendance.

Utilize technology, such as a transportation database, to make electronic transportation requests, maintain current records of homeless students receiving transportation, and determine what specialized bus routes have been established.

Develop forms, such as homeless student transportation requests, parent agreements, and interdistrict transportation agreements that may be accessed easily at any school or online.

Explore flexible bus routes that can be implemented easily. Maintain a list of shelters, hotels, motels, campgrounds, and other areas where homeless families may live so that these locations can be included in bus routes on short notice.

Be aware that students in homeless families and unaccompanied homeless youth move frequently and transportation plans must be adjusted accordingly. Encourage families and youth to inform the local liaison when they are moving.

Identify a transportation staff member who will serve as the point person to arrange transportation for homeless students.

Be mindful of State and local policies for pupil transportation safety. McKinney-Vento does not override safety policies.

If utilizing public transportation, ensure that support is provided for parents to accompany young children to and from school.

Develop a system of providing gas vouchers/cards or reimbursements to parents or youth who are able and willing to drive to school.

Explore possibilities for volunteers, such as retirees, to provide transportation for homeless students. This option should be considered only if pupil transportation safety policies would allow it and if sufficient driver background checks are conducted.

Explore economical approaches to providing transportation. Brainstorm cost-saving solutions with LEA and community stakeholders.


Providing transportation for students experiencing homelessness eliminates the most often cited barrier to their school enrollment and regular attendance (ED, 2004, H). By establishing transportation plans and collaborative agreements prior to the need for transportation, LEAs ensure that transportation for homeless students is provided in a prompt and effective manner.

(1) IN GENERAL- Each State shall submit to the Secretary a plan to provide for the education of homeless children and youths within the State. Such plan shall include the following: …

( J) Assurances that--...

(iii) the State and its local educational agencies will adopt policies and practices to ensure that transportation is provided, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison), to and from the school of origin, as determined in paragraph (3)(A), in accordance with the following, as applicable:

(I) If the homeless child or youth continues to live in the area served by the local educational agency in which the school of origin is located, the child’s or youth’s transportation to and from the school of origin shall be provided or arranged by the local educational agency in which the school of origin is located.

(II) If the homeless child’s or youth’s living arrangements in the area served by the local educational agency of origin terminate and the child or youth, though continuing his or her education in the school of origin, begins living in an area served by another local educational agency, the local educational agency of origin and the local educational agency in which the homeless child or youth is living shall agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school of origin. If the local educational agencies are unable to agree upon such method, the responsibility and costs for transportation shall be shared equally.

42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)( J)(iii)

(4) COMPARABLE SERVICES-Each homeless child or youth to be assisted under this subtitle shall be provided services comparable to services offered to other students in the school selected under paragraph (3), including the following:

(A) Transportation services.

42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(4)(A)

(6) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY LIAISON-

(A) DUTIES- Each local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths, designated under paragraph (1)( J)(ii), shall ensure that--...


(vii) the parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth, and any unaccompanied youth, is fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to the school of origin, as described in paragraph (1)( J)(iii), and is assisted in accessing transportation to the school that is selected under paragraph (3)(A).

42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(6)(A)(vii)

(d) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES- A local educational agency may use funds awarded under this section for activities that carry out the purpose of this subtitle, including the following:...

(5) The provision of assistance to defray the excess cost of transportation for students under section 722(g)(4)(A), not otherwise provided through Federal, State, or local funding, where necessary to enable students to attend the school selected under section 722(g)(3).

42 U.S.C. § 11432(d)(5)

G-4. What should a school district consider when determining the extent to which it is feasible to educate a homeless child or youth in his or her school of origin?

As stated above, to the extent feasible, a district must educate a homeless child or youth in his or her school of origin, unless doing so is contrary to the wishes of the parent or guardian. The placement determination should be a student-centered, individualized determination. Factors that an LEA may consider include the age of the child or youth; the distance of a commute and the impact it may have on the student’s education; personal safety issues; a student’s need for special instruction (e.g., special education and related services); the length of anticipated stay in a temporary shelter or other temporary location; and the time remaining in the school year.

H-1. What responsibilities do SEAs and LEAs have regarding providing transportation services to homeless children and youth?

SEAs and LEAs are responsible for reviewing and revising policies, including transportation policies, that may act as barriers to the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youth in schools in the State. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless children and youth are entitled to receive the transportation and other services that are available to non-homeless students.

SEAs and LEAs must adopt policies and practices to ensure that transportation is provided, at the request of the parent or guardian (or, in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison), to or from the “school of origin” (see definition in Appendix A) in accordance with the following requirements:

If the homeless child or youth continues to live in the area served by the LEA in which the school of origin is located, that LEA must provide or arrange for the child’s or youth’s transportation to or from the school of origin.

If the homeless child or youth continues his or her education in the school of origin but begins living in an area served by another LEA, the LEA of origin and the LEA in which the homeless child or youth is living must agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school of origin. If the LEAs cannot agree upon a method, the responsibility and costs for transportation are to be shared equally.


H-2. How can LEAs ensure that the education of homeless students is not disrupted during inter-district transfers?

LEAs should have in place inter-district (and inter-State, where appropriate) agreements that address potential transportation issues that may arise as homeless students transfer from one district to another.

H-3. May funds under Part A of Title I or Part A of Title V of the ESEA be used to transport homeless students to and from the school of origin?

In general, LEAs may not use funds under Title I, Part A or Title V, Part A to transport homeless students to or from their school of origin. Transportation services to the school of origin are mandated under the McKinney-Vento Act’s statute. The “no-supplanting” provisions in Title I and Title V prohibit those funds from being used to support activities that the LEA would otherwise be required to provide.

H-4. Who should be involved in developing and implementing transportation policies for homeless students?

School districts can best address the transportation needs of homeless and other highly mobile students through a team approach. However, based on the best interest of the student and in consultation with the parent, the LEA ultimately determines the mode of transportation. The LEA’s transportation director is a key figure in the process and should work with district leadership, the local liaison for homeless students, neighboring districts, and homeless service providers to develop effective transportation policies and procedures.

H-5. Is an LEA required to transport homeless students to and from their school of origin, if needed, while enrollment disputes are being resolved?

Yes. The McKinney-Vento Act’s transportation requirements apply while disputes are being resolved. Therefore, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison), the LEA must provide or arrange for transportation to and from the school of origin. Inter-district transportation disputes should be resolved at the SEA level. (See section 722(g)(1)(C).

H-6. If an LEA does not provide transportation to non-homeless students, is it required to transport homeless students?

Yes. As discussed above, the statute not only requires an LEA to provide comparable services, including transportation services, to homeless students, it also requires an LEA, at the request of a parent or guardian, to provide or arrange for transportation to and from the school of origin.

H-7. Do LEA transportation responsibilities apply to all LEAs in the State or only to those LEAs that receive a McKinney-Vento subgrant?

This requirement applies to all LEAs in the State.

H-8. Does McKinney-Vento require an LEA to provide transportation services to homeless children attending preschool?

To the extent an LEA offers a public preschool education, McKinney-Vento requires that homeless children have equal access to that preschool education as provided to non-homeless children. Furthermore, the statue requires that the services provided to homeless children be comparable to those provided to non-homeless children. Thus, if an LEA provides transportation for non-homeless preschool children, it must also provide comparable transportation services for homeless preschool children.


Cunningham, M., Harwood, R., & Hall, S. (2010). Residential instability and the McKinney-Vento homeless children and education program. Washington, DC: Metropolitan Housing and Communities Center, Urban Institute. Retrieved from http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/412115-mckinney-vento-program.pdf.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11431-11435 (2012).

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 (2012).

Obradovic, J., Long, J. D., Cutuli, J. J., Chan, C.K., Hinz, E., Heistad, D., & Masten, A. S. (2009). Academic achievement of homeless and highly mobile children in an urban school district: Longitudinal evidence on risk, growth and resilience. Development and Psychopathology, 21, 493-518.

U.S. Department of Education. (2004). Education for Homeless Children and Youth program non-regulatory guidance. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/guidance.pdf.

Transporting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

This brief was developed by:

National Center for Homeless Education 800-308-2145 (Toll-free Helpline)

http://www.serve.org/nche

Updated Winter 2014

NCHE is supported by the U.S. Department of Education Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs. The contents of this brief were developed under a grant

from the U.S. Department of Education. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume

endorsement by the Federal Government.

Local Contact Information:

Every state is required to have a State Coordinator for Homeless Education, and every school district is required to have a local homeless education liaison. These individuals will assist you with the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act. To

find out who your State Coordinator is, visit the NCHE website at http://www.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php.

For more information on the McKinney-Vento Act and resources for implementation, call the NCHE Helpline at 800-308-2145 or e-mail [email protected].

Please enter local contact information here.

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