transportation for homeless students southeastern states pupil transportation conference columbia,...
TRANSCRIPT
Transportation for Homeless Students
Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference
Columbia, SCJuly 13, 2010
The National Center for Homeless Education
Diana Bowman, Director
[email protected] – 336-315-7453
Today’s Outline
Current picture of student homelessnessOverview of the McKinney-Vento ActTransportation challengesGood practices
How many children experience homelessness?
10 percent of all children experiencing poverty (Urban Institute, 2001)
One in 50 children will experience homelessness (National Center on Family Homelessness, 2008)
956,914 homeless children reported enrolled in school in 2008-2009; a 40 percent increase over three years
539,022 homeless children in districts with MV subgrants; 11% of districts have subgrants
No. of Homeless Students Enrolled in SE States – 2008-2009
State No. Enrolled
AL 12,859
AS 6,344
*FL 40,967
GA 24,079
KY 22,626
LA 25,362
MS 8,525
State No. Enrolled
NC 18,693
*OK 12,139
SC 8,738
*TN 9,836
*TX 80,940
*WV 4,257
2008-2009 Compilation of Federal Data (NCHE)http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/data_comp_06-08.doc
* States with > 20% increase since 2007-2008
Barriers to Education for Homeless Children and Youth
Enrollment requirements (school records, health records, proof of residence and guardianship)
High mobility resulting in lack of school stability and educational continuity
Lack of access to programsLack of transportationLack of school supplies, clothing, etc.Poor health, fatigue, hungerPrejudice and misunderstanding
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Title X, Part C of ESEAReauthorized in 2002, ESEA currently under
reauthorizationMain provisions
School stability• Transportation
Immediate enrollmentAccess to servicesChild-centered, best interest decision makingLocal liaison in every school district
Who Qualifies For Services?
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 reasonLiving in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to the lack of
adequate alternative accommodationsLiving in emergency or transitional sheltersAwaiting foster care placementLiving in a public or private place not designed for humans to live, such as cars,
parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or bus or train stationsMigrant and unaccompanied students living in the above circumstances
School Stability
Homeless students can enroll in the local attendance area school in the school district where they are currently staying or remain in their school of origin
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 guardian’s (or unaccompanied youth’s) wishes
Feasibility – US ED Sample Criteria
Continuity of instructionAge of the child or youthSafety of the child or youthLikely length of stay in temporary housingLikely area where the family will find permanent
housingStudent’s need for special instructional programsImpact of the commute on educationSchool placement of siblingsTime remaining in the school year
Transportation – Key Provisions
LEAs must provide transportation 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 crossing LEA lines, they must determine how to divide the responsibility and share the cost, or they must share equally
Transportation Provisions (cont.)
LEAs must provide homeless students with transportation services comparable with those of other students
LEAs must eliminate barriers to the school enrollment and retention of homeless students, including transportation barriers
LEAs can determine the mode of transportationTitle I, Part A, funds may not be used to provide
transportation to the school of origin, but may be used for other transportation needs
Implementation Challenges
Transportation to and from the school of origin has been the number one barrier for school districts, as reported in federal data on LEAs with McKinney-Vento subgrants
Lack of fundingCapacity/staffingTimely arrangementCoordination across school district and/or state
lines
Implementation challenges (cont.)
Children with special needsExtra-curricular activities, summer school, after-
school programsParent involvement
What’s on the horizon for ESEA reauthorization?
Bills introduced to CongressAllows Title I to pay for transportation to and from
the school of originProposes higher funding for Homeless Education
For information on reauthorization, visit the website for the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and youth: www.naehcy.org
Spotlight on Good Practices - Georgia
Each LEA has a transportation point of contact for homeless liaison; he/she participates in meetings with the liaison to discuss strategies
One district has a transportation request form so that social workers can immediately send a request to Transportation for processing
Gas cards provided for families that have carsUpdates list of shelters, motels, hotels provided to
Transportation Department annuallyPublic bus passes provided for unaccompanied youth;
passes provided to parents/guardians to accompany elementary/middle school youth
Spotlight on Good Practices – San Antonio, TX
Districts in San Antonio hold a meeting at the beginning of each school year that includes homeless liaisons and transportation directorsTransfer pointsWho initiates transportation requests and notifies parents
of bus schedule for children crossing district linesPolicies related to discipline
Developed transportation booklet for parents
Spotlight on Good Practices – Rutherford County, TN
Sixth largest school system in TN, adjacent to Nashville – suburban county, no public bus service
851 homeless students identified last yearTransportation staff person with dedicated time to arrange
services for homeless students; brainstorms solutions with homeless liaison
Sometimes use bus drivers who live near shelters or student’s temporary address to add route close to the school of origin
Use special education buses with more flexible schedules
Spotlight on Good Practices – Spartanburg, SC
Identified 285 homeless students last year, transported 168 to the school of origin
“The catalyst for our success is personalities”Great coordination between liaison and transportation
directorMotto for all: “We’re here for the children” – all on boardAll roles involved, including bus drivers as “front line”
Interdistrict transportation came about from meetings with specific role groups – liaison to liaison, transportation director to transportation director, superintendent to superintendent
Spotlight on Good Practices – Jefferson County (Louisville), KY
100,000 students; 10,555 homeless students (10 percent); foreclosures, economy, lack of shelters
Lots of community support – coalition of housing, shelters, juvenile justice, school district
Transportation system for homeless students built over years, good coordination between homeless education program and transportation department
Bus drivers are eyes and ears of the community; go above and beyond – adopt a shelter for donations
Spotlight on Good Practices – Guilford County, NC
Transportation staff member assigned to coordinate all transportation services for homeless childrenProcesses in-house paperwork Informs homeless liaisonReroutes buses, informs drivers, contacts parents or
unaccompanied youthNotifies schools and agencies
Director of transportation is not involved unless there is a specific problem, such as interdistrict and coordination problems
Resources from NCHE
The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is the U.S. Department of Education’s technical assistance center for homeless education. NCHE is located at The SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.
Contact the Helpline: 800-308-2145 or [email protected]
Visit the website: www.serve.org/nche
Links to Transportation Resources from NCHE
Increasing School Stability for Students Experiencing Homelessness: Overcoming Challenges to Providing Transportation to the School of Origin:
http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/nche_transp_body.pdf
McKinney-Vento Law into Practice Brief – Transportation: http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/transportation.pdf
Transportation for Homeless Children and Youth – Strategies for Rural School Districts: http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/rur_trans.pdf
Six Strategies for Meeting Transportation Requirements: http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/transportation_strategies.pdf