PowerPoint Presentation

[Audio] Good Morning or Good Afternoon, everyone, and thank you for taking the time to participate in this training. Today, we are going to review the requirements related to several of our special populations within Selma City Schools. Specifically, we will discuss McKinney-Vento students, students in foster care, English Learners, and students who may qualify for Migrant Education services. The purpose of this training is to make sure that all staff members understand our responsibilities for identifying, enrolling, supporting, and serving these students. Each of us plays an important role in making sure students have access to the educational services and protections to which they are entitled. As we go through the presentation, please think about your individual role and how these requirements may apply to the students and families you serve..

[Audio] We will begin with McKinney-Vento. Under federal law, a child or youth is considered homeless when he or she lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. It is very important to understand that homelessness does not only mean living on the street or in a shelter. A student may qualify under McKinney-Vento if the family is doubled up with another family because of a loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. Students may also qualify if they are living temporarily in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or campground because they do not have another adequate place to live. Students living in emergency or transitional shelters may qualify, as well as students living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or other locations that are not designed for regular housing. Substandard housing may also qualify. This can include housing without utilities or housing with serious conditions such as mold, infestations, or other dangerous conditions. The important thing to remember is that we should never make assumptions based only on what we believe homelessness looks like. If there is a concern about a student's living situation, please contact our Homeless Liaison so the situation can be properly reviewed..

[Audio] Another important group covered under McKinney-Vento is unaccompanied homeless youth. An unaccompanied homeless youth is a child or youth who meets the definition of homeless and is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. These students can be especially vulnerable and may face significant barriers to remaining in school. Unaccompanied homeless youth have the same right to immediate enrollment and educational services as other students experiencing homelessness. A parent or guardian does not have to be present for that student to enroll. In many cases, an unaccompanied youth may actually come to the school and enroll themselves. School staff should be prepared to receive that student with compassion, sensitivity, and urgency. Our Homeless Liaison is responsible for assisting these students with enrollment, school selection, dispute resolution, and connecting them with needed services. The key message here is that these students should never be turned away because they arrive without a parent or guardian. Our response can make a significant difference in whether that student remains connected to school..

[Audio] One of the core principles of the McKinney-Vento Act is equal access. Students experiencing homelessness must have access to the same free and appropriate public education that is available to other students. This includes access to preschool programs when applicable. As a district, we are responsible for identifying and removing barriers that may prevent McKinney-Vento students from participating fully in school. A lack of documentation, a missed enrollment deadline, or a change in the student's living situation cannot become a barrier to education. The expectation is simple: students experiencing homelessness should have the same opportunities to learn, participate, and succeed as any other student in Selma City Schools..

[Audio] Immediate enrollment is one of the most important requirements under McKinney-Vento. A student who qualifies for McKinney-Vento services must be enrolled immediately, even if the student or family cannot provide all of the documents that we would normally require during enrollment. This means we cannot delay enrollment because the student is missing school records, immunization records, health records, proof of residency, guardianship documentation, or other records. We also cannot deny or delay enrollment because an application or enrollment deadline was missed during the student's period of homelessness. When we say immediate enrollment, we mean the student should be able to attend class and participate in school activities beginning on the first day. We should not tell the family or student to come back once they have gathered the paperwork. The student is enrolled first, and we work on obtaining the necessary records afterward..

[Audio] I want to emphasize that enrollment means more than completing registration paperwork. Enrollment means that the student is actually attending classes and participating fully in school activities while the necessary documentation is being gathered. The Homeless Liaison can assist with obtaining immunization records, health screenings, or other required information. The enrolling school should request records from the student's previous school, but again, the student remains enrolled while those records are being transferred. Immediate enrollment also applies when a parent or guardian is not present. This is especially important for unaccompanied homeless youth. If a student arrives alone and qualifies under McKinney-Vento, that student should be supported through the enrollment process rather than turned away. Please remember that our responsibility is to remove barriers, not create additional ones..

[Audio] The next important concept is the school of origin. The school of origin is generally the school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled. It can also include the designated receiving school at the next grade level when a student completes the final grade served by the school of origin. For each student experiencing homelessness, a best-interest determination must be made regarding school placement. In some situations, it may be in the student's best interest to remain in the school of origin. The student may remain there throughout the period of homelessness and through the end of the academic year in which the student becomes permanently housed. In other cases, it may be in the student's best interest to enroll in the school serving the area where the student is currently living. These decisions should always focus on educational stability and what is best for the individual student..

[Audio] When using Title I, Part A homeless set-aside funds or McKinney-Vento funds, there are two important principles that must guide our decisions. First, the expense must be reasonable and necessary. In other words, the service or item should directly help the student access educational opportunities and be successful in school. Second, these funds should be used as a last resort. Before using these funds, we should determine whether another public or private resource is available to meet the student's need. When other resources are not available, these funds may be used when the expenditure is allowable and directly connected to the student's educational needs. Documentation is also very important. We should be able to demonstrate why the expense was necessary and that other available resources were considered..

[Audio] This slide provides examples of expenses that may be allowable when the required principles are met. Funds may be used for clothing or uniforms that are necessary for school participation, including shoes or clothing needed for physical education. Funds may also be used for school supplies or student fees that are necessary for participation in the general education program. Basic hygiene products may be purchased when they support the student's ability to attend and participate in school. In some situations, funds may also support medical or dental services, eyeglasses, hearing aids, student projects, field trips, or graduation-related needs such as a cap and gown. Again, these are not automatic purchases. Each expenditure must be reviewed to make sure it is reasonable, necessary, allowable, and being used as a last resort..

[Audio] Next, we will discuss students in foster care. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, students in foster care are entitled to educational stability and support. One of the most important requirements is immediate enrollment. Students in foster care should be enrolled without unnecessary delay, even when all of their documentation is not immediately available. School placement decisions should be based on the best educational interest of the student. When remaining in the school of origin is determined to be in the student's best interest, transportation must be addressed so the student can continue attending that school. Another critical component is collaboration. Schools and child welfare agencies must work together to support students in foster care and promote continuity in their education. Our goal is to minimize disruption and make sure these students continue to have access to the relationships, services, and educational opportunities they need to succeed..

[Audio] Now we will move into English Learners. Title III is designed to support students in developing English proficiency while also achieving academic success. Even though Selma City Schools does not currently receive Title III funds, we are still legally responsible for identifying and serving students who qualify as English Learners. The process begins with the Home Language Survey. The Home Language Survey must be completed during enrollment and maintained in the student's cumulative record. If the information on the survey indicates that the student may be an English Learner, the appropriate WIDA assessment must be administered to determine eligibility. Students who are determined to be eligible must receive an Individualized English Language Plan, or IELP, and that plan must be implemented as required. It is also important to remember that English Learner training is not only for teachers who directly serve EL students. All employees have a responsibility to understand the district's requirements and their role in supporting English Learners. Our overall responsibility is to ensure that eligible students receive appropriate language support and meaningful access to instruction..

[Audio] Our final special population area is Migrant Education. Title I, Part C provides supplemental services for eligible children of families, or children themselves, who migrate for qualifying work in agriculture or fishing. These students may experience interrupted schooling, mobility, or language barriers, which can create additional educational challenges. The identification process begins with the required ALSDE Employment Survey during enrollment. The Employment Survey must be completed, and the results must be entered into PowerSchool for state data collection and reporting purposes. Selma City Schools does not currently receive Title I, Part C funds, but that does not eliminate our responsibility to administer and properly document the Employment Survey. Accurate completion of these surveys is extremely important because it supports accurate state data and helps protect the district during monitoring or audits. Enrollment staff should make sure this survey is completed for every new student as required..

[Audio] Before we conclude, everyone is required to complete the training acknowledgment. Please use the link provided on the slide or scan the QR code to complete the certification form. By completing the certification, you are acknowledging that you have reviewed the requirements discussed today and understand your responsibility in helping Selma City Schools identify and support McKinney-Vento students, students in foster care, English Learners, and students who may qualify for Migrant Education services. Please make sure you complete the form before leaving or by the deadline communicated by the district..

[Audio] That concludes our training on Federal Programs Special Populations. I know we covered a lot of information, but the most important thing I want everyone to remember is that we should never allow paperwork, living circumstances, language, mobility, or placement situations to prevent a student from accessing an education. When you are unsure about a student's situation, please do not try to make the determination alone. Reach out and ask for assistance. For questions related to these programs, you may contact me, Kristen Dial-Williams, Federal Programs Director, or Irene Patterson, our Homeless Liaison. Thank you for your attention, your cooperation, and most importantly, for the work you do every day to support the students of Selma City Schools. One Vision. One Voice. One Selma..