Homeless LIAISON

McKinney-Vento Act for Homeless Students

 The McKinney-Vento Act was originally authorized in 1987 and most recently re-authorized in December 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It was designed to address the challenges that homeless children and youths have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, state educational agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth has access to the educational and related services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging state academic standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. State educational agencies and local educational agencies are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices or policies that may act as barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youths.

Who is considered homeless? Under the McKinney-Vento Act, the term “homeless children and youths” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence that includes children and youths:

• Who are sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations, are living in emergency or transitional shelters, or are abandoned in hospitals; 

• Who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not

designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; 

• Who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard

housing, bus or trains stations, or similar settings;

• Who are migratory children who live in one of the above circumstances.

The Grayville Community Unit School District is dedicated to helping your children receive a consistent, quality education. If you or someone you know would benefit from the McKinney-Vento Act, please contact the school liaison Nicole Bonan or click on the provided link to complete the McKinney-Vento Questionnaire and please return to the Main Office.

Common Signs of Homelessness

Note: While these are considered common signs, please recognize that they only offer general guidance.  There is significant variability within the school-age homeless population. Individual students may differ significantly from the following general characteristics.

Lack of Educational Continuity

·  Attendance at many different schools

·  Missing records needed to enroll

·  Inability to pay fees

·  Gaps in skill development

·  Mistaken assessment of abilities

·  Poor organizational skills

·  Poor ability to conceptualize

Poor Health/Nutrition

·  Missing immunizations & medical records

·  Unmet medical & dental needs

·  Respiratory problems

·  Skin rashes

·  Chronic hunger or food hoarding

·  Fatigue (may fall asleep in class)

Transportation & Attendance Problems

·  Erratic attendance and tardiness

·  Numerous absences

·  Lack of participation in afterschool activities

·  Lack of participation in field trips

·  Inability to contact parents

Poor Hygiene

·  Lacking shower facilities/washers, etc.

·  Wearing clothes several days

·  Inconsistent grooming 

Lack of Personal Space After School

·  Consistent lack of preparation for school

·  Incomplete or missing homework

·  Unable to complete special projects

·  Lacking basic school supplies

·  Loss of books and supplies on regular basis

·  Elevated concern for safety of belongings 

Social and Behavioral Concerns

·  A marked change in behavior

·  Poor/short attention span

·  Poor self-esteem

·  Extreme shyness

·  Unwilling to form relationships with peers & teachers

·  Difficulty socializing at recess or lunch periods

·  Difficulty trusting people

·  Aggression

·  “Old” beyond years

·  Overly protective of parents

·  Clinging behavior

·  Developmental delays

·  Fear of abandonment

·  School phobia (afraid to leave parent)

·  Anxiety, especially late in the school day 

Reactions or Statements by Parents, Guardians, or Students

·  Exhibiting anger or embarrassment when asked about current address

·  Avoidance of questions related to current address

·  Statements about staying with grandparents, other relatives, friends, or in motels & campgrounds

·  Statements such as: 

~“I don’t remember the name of the last school.” 

~“We’ve been moving around a lot.”

~“Our address is new; I can’t remember it.”

~“We’re staying with relatives until we get settled.” 

~“We’re going through a bad time right now.”

Dear Families,

Have you heard about our Caring Closet?  Our Caring Closet was created to assist students in need, by providing them with necessary clothing.  The Caring Closet helps students by providing:

·      New and gently used school clothing and coats

·      New and gently used tennis shoes

·      New underwear and socks

·      Hygiene kits

Caring Closet’s mission has been to increase the confidence and retention rate of in need students by providing free, clean, appropriate, and adequately fitting clothing and shoes. This increased confidence can lead to academic and social success in school.  If you are a family who is in need of assistance, please let us know by clicking on the Clothing Request Form link.  We will do our best to support as many families as we can.  

If you are in a position to support our Caring Closet, we accept CLEAN, SMOKE FREE, and PET FREE clothing in child sizes 5 to adult XL.  Please NO dresses or skirts and tennis shoes ONLY. 

We also accept basic hygiene products such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap or body wash.

We greatly appreciate any past and future support and collaboration from our community and friends.