On March 13, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a new template for states to use in developing their state plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youths program is eligible for inclusion in a state’s consolidated plan under ESSA. See 20 U.S.C. §8302(a)(1)(B).
Under the new state plan template, states that choose to include the EHCY program in their consolidated plans must include certain EHCY elements, listed below. These elements are directly from the McKinney-Vento statute, and are nearly identical to those included in the previous state plan template. The new template does include two new elements from the McKinney-Vento statute that had not been in the previous template:
- a demonstration that SEAs and LEAs have developed, and will review and revise, policies to remove barriers to the identification of homeless children and youth, and the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youth in schools in the State, including barriers to enrollment and retention due to outstanding fees or fines, or absences; and
- a description of how homeless youth will receive assistance from counselors to advise such youths, and prepare and improve the readiness of such youths for college.
The new template also includes the requirement in ESSA for States to identify and remove barriers that prevent homeless youth from receiving appropriate credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school, in accordance with State, local, and school policies.
All of the EHCY elements are critical for ensuring that children and youth experiencing homelessness do not face barriers to school enrollment, attendance, and success.
The use of the new template is optional. The Department will allow states to create their own application, as long as the format includes the required elements, and indicates that the State has developed its template working with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
I. Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Title VII, Subtitle B
Student Identification (722(g)(1)(B) of the McKinney-Vento Act): Describe the procedures the SEA will use to identify homeless children and youth in the State and to assess their needs.
Dispute Resolution (722(g)(1)(C) of the McKinney-Vento Act): Describe procedures for the prompt resolution of disputes regarding the educational placement of homeless children and youth.
Support for School Personnel (722(g)(1)(D) of the McKinney-Vento Act): Describe programs for school personnel (including the LEA liaisons for homeless children and youth, principals and other school leaders, attendance officers, teachers, enrollment personnel, and specialized instructional support personnel) to heighten the awareness of such school personnel of the specific needs of homeless children and youth, including runaway and homeless children and youth.
Access to Services (722(g)(1)(F) of the McKinney-Vento Act): Describe procedures that ensure that:
- Homeless children have access to public preschool programs, administered by the SEA or LEA, as provided to other children in the State;
- Homeless youth and youth separated from public schools are identified and accorded equal access to appropriate secondary education and support services, including by identifying and removing barriers that prevent youth described in this clause from receiving appropriate credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school, in accordance with State, local, and school policies; and
- Homeless children and youth who meet the relevant eligibility criteria do not face barriers to accessing academic and extracurricular activities, including magnet school, summer school, career and technical education, advanced placement, online learning, and charter school programs, if such programs are available at the State and local levels.
Strategies to Address Other Problems (722(g)(1)(H) of the McKinney-Vento Act): Provide strategies to address other problems with respect to the education of homeless children and youth, including problems resulting from enrollment delays that are caused by—
- requirements of immunization and other required health records;
- residency requirements;
- lack of birth certificates, school records, or other documentation;
- guardianship issues; or
- uniform or dress code requirements.
Policies to Remove Barriers (722(g)(1)(I) of the McKinney-Vento Act): Demonstrate that the SEA and LEAs in the State have developed, and shall review and revise, policies to remove barriers to the identification of homeless children and youth, and the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youth in schools in the State, including barriers to enrollment and retention due to outstanding fees or fines, or absences.
Assistance from Counselors (722(g)(1)(K)): A description of how youths described in section 725(2) will receive assistance from counselors to advise such youths, and prepare and improve the readiness of such youths for college.