Families In Transition

• LYSD designates a point of contact (POC) for receipt of a weekly Out of Home Placement Report from the Office of Children Services(OCS) . This weekly email is shared by the POC or designee to all impacted sites on a weekly basis through email. Students identified as entering or leaving the Foster Care system are identified or unidentified in the student data base system as appropriate on a weekly basis. Students currently identified as Foster Care Students (FCS) are searchable in LYSD's student database. LYSD completes Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with POC and written transportation procedures document annually with OCS to ensure agreements are updated and appropriate as well as update contact information. BP 5112.6.

LYSD will meet this requirement as appropriate for student with in their best interest as dictated in school board policy . Village schools within LYSD only have one school option but this consideration will be held as dedicated in law. BP 5112.6

• LYSD will follow the board policy as it relates to Best Interest determination and Immediate Enrollment BP 5112.6

District Policies & Practices

The Superintendent or designee shall designate at least one staff person to serve as the Homeless Student Liaison to fulfill the duties set forth in law. The Liaison shall work to identify homeless children and facilitate each homeless child's access to and success in school. The Liaison will: assist parents, students, and unaccompanied youth in enrolling and attending school, with the opportunity to meet the same high academic standard as other students; mediate disputes concerning school enrollment; assist in making transportation arrangements; assist in requesting the student's records; provide information and give referrals on services and opportunities, including assistance with status verifications for federal student aid applications; provide public notice of educational rights for homeless students in locations frequented by homeless youth and their families; and assist any homeless child who is not in the custody of a parent or guardian with enrollment decisions. The Liaison will also be responsible for periodic review and evaluation of this policy and recommending changes to reduce barriers for homeless children enrolling in and attending school.

Board Policy

• The Lower Yukon School District adheres to Board Policy which complies with Federal and State guidelines and advocates for homeless school children and youth, removing barriers to education.

State Policy

• The State of Alaska speaks to the right of FIT students to be enrolled immediately, for up to thirty days, without providing immunizations records but by signing a witnessed statement acknowledging that, indeed, that student has had necessary immunizations.

• The State of Alaska speaks to the medical treatment rights of unaccompanied minors who may give consent for their own medical and dental services

• The State of Alaska provides guidance for education data sharing for Alaska children in Out-of-Home care requiring The Office of Children Services to provide the School District with information relating to those students in emergency placements and those that may be eligible for McKinney-Vento services

Federal Policy

• The Main Themes of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act are as follows:
• Identification.
• School stability.
• School enrollment.
• Support for academic success.
• Child-centered, best interest decision making

• The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines “homeless children and youths” as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” However, because the circumstances of homelessness vary with each family’s or unaccompanied youth’s situation, determining the extent to which the family or youth fits the definition must occur on a case-by-case basis. The local homeless education liaison and/or enrollment staff must gather and analyze information from the family or youth and make an appropriate determination of eligibility. Expeditious determination of eligibility and immediate school enrollment are critical to the student’s educational continuity.

LYSD Referral Process

LYSD will notify LYSD staff the process of identification which will have the following components

• A McKinney-Vento Referral Form will be open to all staff and contain questions that will be received by the Homeless Liaison ( HL) to review and respond.
• The HL will review the information in the referral document and interview families and or students to determine eligible ( thinking map)
• If the student is determined as eligible by the HL then the HL will designate that eligibility in the student data base and respond to the site of original referral and complete the necessary parental or guardian forms.

Eligibility Requirements for Families in Transition (FIT)

• Students are eligible after July 1st of of each school year who qualify for Families in Transition.

• The federal guidelines for determining eligibility are as follows:

• 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.

• 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 similar settings.

• Migratory children living in above circumstances.

• Awaiting foster care placement (until 12/10/16).

Determining Eligibility

• Case-by-case determination

• Collect information from referred family/student with great respect and sensitivity

• Determine if living in current location due to nowhere else to go

Disputing Ineligibility

• The student shall be immediately enrolled in the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute (including all available appeals).

• The parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth must be provided a written explanation of decisions made by the school, LEA or SEA, and how to appeal them.

• The parent, guardian or youth must be referred to the liaison, who must carry out the dispute resolution process as expeditiously as possible.

• The liaison shall ensure unaccompanied youth are immediately enrolled pending resolution of the dispute.,

• If the LEA determines that it is not in the student’s best interest to attend the school of origin or the school requested by the parent, guardian or youth, the LEA must provide a written explanation of the reasons for its determination, in a manner and form understandable to such parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth, including information regarding the right to appeal

• To begin the process the unsatisfied party would contact the school district Liaison and fill out the appropriate form for filing a dispute. The form would then be viewed by the Liaison. If the decision of the Liaison was also unsatisfactory to the party, it would be brought to the Director/Assistant Director of Federal Programs, at which point the final decision would be determined, at any point the Liaison may also consult the State of Alaska McKinney-Vento Coordinator for input and guidance.

• Every school district (LEA) must designate a liaison for children and youth experiencing homelessness

• Liaisons are required to ensure that “homeless children and youths are identified by school personnel and through coordination with other entities and agencies

• Liaisons must ensure that:

• McKinney-Vento students enroll in and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.

• Children and youth in homeless situations are identified by school personnel through outreach and coordination with other entities and agencies.

• Public notice of MV rights is disseminated in locations frequented by parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth, in a manner and form understandable to them.

• School personnel providing McKinney-Vento services receive professional development and other support.

• Children, youth and families have access to and receive educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, early intervention (IDEA Part C) and other preschool programs.

• Children, youth and families receive referrals to health care, dental, mental health, substance abuse, housing and other services.

• Disputes are resolved and assistance to access transportation is provided.

• Unaccompanied youth are enrolled in school and that procedures are implemented to identify and remove barriers that prevent them from receiving credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed at a prior school, in accordance with State, local, and school policies.

• Liaisons must participate in professional development and technical assistance as determined appropriate by the State Coordinator.

FIT Program Services/Fund Allocation

• HL will interview students and families annually to determine eligibility and need.

• After a need has been identified the HL will provide (supplemental and allowable ) services through the set aside funds in Title I

• Posters for identification, services, and program contact information will be annually provided to each school site.

Determination of Allowable Expenses

• Allowable expenses are those dictated by the budget set up by the LYSD Federal Programs Department and approved by the State of Alaska. Before incurring any cost, the HL must asks the following questions:

• Is this allowable under our program?

• Is this reasonable under our program?

Examples of Recommended Services

• academic tutoring
• medical referrals
• clothing vouchers
• shoe vouchers
• enrollment assistance
• FAFSA Verification Letter
• housing referral letter
• emergency housing referral
• laundry assistance
• school supplies
• personal hygiene supplies
• birth certificate assistance
• immunization records and other records assistance
• Pre School referral

Evaluating FIT/FCS Program Progress

• The FIT and FCS programs are evaluated annually based on their performance on Regional School Board Goals (attendance, academic achievement, and graduation rate).

• Students must be enrolled immediately whether they have required documentation or not.
• Completing a Parent-to-Parent Agreement is the first step if a student is not living with a legal guardian. Attach this form in Powerschool.
• If a Parent-to-Parent Agreement cannot be completed due to adoption or if OCS:
• The Home School Coordinators will reach out to (may require a phone call ) OCS in Bethel to gather the OCS paperwork or a copy of the emergency placement order.
• The documents must be attached in PowerSchool.
• The student is then identified as a foster student.
• Guardian information is entered into powerschool with the OCS contact information as well.
• If isn’t OCS involved and the parent will not or can not sign the parent to parent:
• use the Parent in Absentia form. Reach out to the homeless liaison( Leo or myself) and explain the details around the situation so the liaison can use our identification flow chart to properly identify the student as experiencing homelessness or not. If the liaison identifies that student as experiencing homelessness then the Home School Coordinator has the ability to mark the student homeless in powerschool and attach the parent in absentia form. (only the liaison can officially identify the student) Students experiencing homelessness have access to funding to provide school supplies, clothes, and toiletries if needed as determined by the homeless liaison after reaching out to the student and guardians.
• These are populations of students with special needs therefore the principal, counselor need to be informed about these students so that plans of support can be designed to meet their needs. Weekly lists of Foster Care Students will be sent to sites via secure email. Update Powerschool with these lists weekly.