Supporting

Students
Experiencing
Homelessness
MANASSAS PARK CITY SCHOOLS
MANASSAS PARK CITY SCHOOLS

Strategic Goal #3:

Provide effective and efficient
support for student safety and
success.
Objective #2:
MPCS will implement programs and
services that promote a safe and
supportive learning environment
The Manassas Park City School Board is committed to educating
homeless children and youth. Homeless children and youth are
not stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as
homeless. The school division coordinates the identification and
provision of services to such students...
(Manassas Park City Schools, 2018, Policy JECA).
MANASSAS PARK CITY SCHOOLS
 McKinney-Vento
2001

Homeless Education Assistance Act

Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (P.L. 114-95).

I. "Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless
individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free,
appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as
provided to other children and youth."

II. Commitment to revise & III. Homelessness is not

review laws, regulations, and sufficient reason to
policies to remove barriers and separate students from
ensure homeless youth are the mainstream school
afforded the same FAPE as other environment.
children.
-Enrollment -Attendance - Success
What do you
picture when you
hear the word
"homeless"?
MCKINNEY-VENTO
DEFINITION OF HOMELESS
42 U.S.C. § 11434A(2)

"Individuals who lack a fixed,

regular, and adequate nighttime
residence...
• uncertain housing
• temporary address
• no permanent physical
address "
HOMELESS OR NOT?
Is it fixed? Is it regular? Is it adequate?

"Individuals who lack a fixed,

A 5 year old child has moved into
regular, and adequate
nighttime residence... Grandma and Grandpa's house with his
mom after splitting with the father. The
• uncertain housing
child and his mother share a bedroom
• temporary address
and have been living there for three
• no permanent physical
months.
address "
HOMELESS OR NOT?
Is it fixed? Is it regular? Is it adequate?

"Individuals who lack a fixed,

A family must relocate, but the 17 year
regular, and adequate
old daughter wants to stay in the area
nighttime residence...
until her graduation. She spends most
• uncertain housing nights staying at different friends' houses
• temporary address
on their couch. If she can't find
• no permanent physical
somewhere for a night then she sleeps in
address "
her car.
HOMELESS OR NOT?
Is it fixed? Is it regular? Is it adequate?

A family of four moves into the basement

"Individuals who lack a fixed,
of a family friend. They are told they can
regular, and adequate
nighttime residence... stay for three weeks until they need to
find a new place to live. At the end of
• uncertain housing
the three weeks the family moves in with
• temporary address
a different family friend, this time they can
• no permanent physical
stay for 1 month.
address "
HOMELESS OR NOT?
Is it fixed? Is it regular? Is it adequate?

Maria & Lucas have a 3yr old, a 10yr

"Individuals who lack a fixed,
old and an infant. They newly arrive to
regular, and adequate
nighttime residence...
the area and decide to move-in with
Maria's sister, husband and kids. They
• uncertain housing
decide to split the cost of sharing a four
• temporary address
bedroom townhouse for a year while
• no permanent physical
Maria & Lucas start new jobs.
address "
HOMELESS OR NOT?
Is it fixed? Is it regular? Is it adequate?

A father and his son decide to rent a

"Individuals who lack a fixed,
regular, and adequate basement after seeing an ad on Facebook

nighttime residence... Marketplace. The basement has space, but

does not have a fridge, shower/bath, or
• uncertain housing
furniture. The father signed a six-month
• temporary address
lease. The son is able to do his laundry at
• no permanent physical
school and shower in the lockeroom.
address "
ELIGIBILITY FOR UNACCOMPANIED
YOUTH
A minor not living with their parents
LIKELY ELIGIBLE LIKELY INELIGIBLE
• parent has unexpected medical need, • parent has expected medical need, or incarceration,
arrest, or deportation, so child stays so childcare is predetermined (staying with
with family friend. relative/friend).

• Youth runs away after experiencing • Youth is placed in custody of someone else after

targetted violence at their home and CPS safety plan is created

temporarily stays with relative or

friend. • Youth is escaping community violence from another
country or wants to obtain better education.
Arranges to live with someone without a time limit
for staying.
IDENTIFYING HOMELESS STUDENTS:
Possible indicators of homelessness...

ATTENDANCE

ERRATIC STUDENT RECORD,

ATTENDANCE MUTLIPLE DOCUMENT ACCESS

SCHOOLS

STUDENT CONVERSATION
GAPS IN
LEARNING
 IDENTIFYING HOMELESS STUDENTS:
"I think my student may be homeless.
What do I do now?"

Homeless Liaison Homeless Liaison

Share concerns Homeless
identifies communicates with
with School Liaison begins
appropriate relevant
Counselor or identification
stakeholders.
reach out directly accommodations
paperwork &
to Homeless and placement
investigation
SCHOOL OF ORIGIN
Liaison
SUPPORT: MPCS PROVIDES
STUDENTS EXPERIENCING SUPPORT
HOMELESSNESS HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT INCLUDING...
TO... • CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATIONS
• CLOTHING
• BASIC HYGIENE ITEMS
• SCHOOL SUPPLIES
TRANSPORTATION FREE & REDUCED
MEALS • SUPPLEMENTAL COUNSELING
EXTRACURRICULARS
• REFERRALS TO DENTAL, MENTAL, &
& OTHER
QUALIFYING GENERAL HEALTH CARE, SUBSTANCE
PROGRAMS
(GT. SPED. ESOL. ABUSE, & HOUSING.
SPED. CTE. AP. EARLY
• SHORT-TERM HOUSING (HOTEL STAYS)
INTERVENTION. IMMEDIATE APPEAL
HEADSTART.) ENROLLMENT • NOURISHING NINJA
PLACEMENT
REGARDLESS OF DECISIONS • "ADOPT A COUGAR"
DOCUMENTS
• FAMILY MARKET
 MCKINNEY-VENTO
SUPPORT: SUBGRANT FUNDING
MPCS COLLABORATES TO IDENTIFY &
SUPPORT HOMELESS STUDENTS..
ALLOWABLE USES MAY INCLUDE...
NUTRITION Add'l Tutoring or Enriched Professional
TRANSPORTATION STUDENT
SERVICES & Educational Services Development
COUNSELING
Communication of parental and Health & Social Services

student rights Referrals:

medical, dental, mental health,
MPCS HOMELESS
Collaborations with etc.
LIAISON
other local agencies. Transportation costs

Emergency Assistance to keep

INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF School Supplies
ADMINISTRATORS & students in school.
MAIN OFFICE STAFF
Retrieving &
Expedited student evaluations
Maintaining Records
(GT, SPED, ESOL)
 Title 1
SUPPORT: Part A | Elementary and Secondary Education Act
(ESEA; 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.)

MCKINNEY-VENTO "provide all children with a fair, equitable,

CROSS-PROGRAM and high-quality education, and to close
COLLABORATION & educational achievement gaps".
SCHOOL WIDE PROGRAMS &
COMPLIANCE
TARGETED ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

IDEA & 504

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Section 504
(20 U.S.C. § 1400(d) (1) (A)).)
"children with disabilities receive a FAPE to prepare them for
further education, employment, and independent living
“specially designed instruction, provided at no cost to the parents,
to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability”
-PROMPT EVALUATIONS
-MV TRAINING PROVIDED TO STAFF
SUPPORT:

What are some possible

accommodations you could
provide a student
experiencing
homelessness?
• Extended time to complete assignments
• Additional study space (before/afterschool
tutoring)
• Paper & Electronic Assignments (wifi access)
VISIT THE PROJECT HOPE WEBSITE TO LEARN
MPCS Homeless Liaison:
MORE Kelly Brown
kelly.brown@mpark.net
Supervisor of Student Services