New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students

NYS-TEACHS
at Advocates for Children

151 West 30th Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10001

TEL 800.388.2014
FAX 212.807.6872

info@nysteachs.org

New and Noteworthy

NEW! NYSED's 2013 Field Memo on McKinney-Vento and Summer School

Homeless or temporarily housed students who are required to attend summer school continue to have their McKinney-Vento rights, which include enrollment and transportaiton. The above NYSED Field Memo highlights these rights and the importance ensuring that McKinney-Vento eligible students have access to summer school.

NEW! UPK Class Size Variance Request Forms

Upon request, SED may grant a class-size variance to help homeless students participate in UPK, even if the existing UPK classroom would otherwise be considered full, Commissioner's Regulation 151-1.5(b)(7)(ii). The McKinney-Vento Field Memo Re: Universal Pre-K Programs for Homeless Students highlights this process on the second page in point 1 of 2. Below are two new forms to assist with this process.

• UPK class-size variance e-mail template - Requests to expand a UPK classroom to accomodate a homeless student are to be done via e-mail. This is a template that can be used to submit the request.
• UPK class-size form - As a supplement to the email, this form can be attached to provide the same information in a shortened standardized format.

Community-based UPK programs:

There is NO centralized application or timeline for UPK programs located in community-based organizations. Rather, parents should contact individual CBOs directly to apply.

The 2013-2014 Pre-K Directory is available online at schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/PreK/Publications/default.htm

For more information, visit the New York City pre-k website or call (718) 935-2009

The application for 2013 LeTendre scholars is now posted.

This is a college scholarship available to students who are or who have been homeless. Please note that this year's deadline is earlier than previous years. Applications must be received by June 14, 2013 at 5 pm Eastern. The application can be downloaded by visiting: www.naehcy.org/letendre-scholarship-fund/scholarship-application

REVISED FILE - POSTED 2/19/13 Updated Three-Year Summary: Enrollment of Students Experiencing Homelessness

This spreadsheet contains the total number of homeless students enrolled in New York State School Districts and Charter Schools during the 2011-2012, 2010-2011, and 2009-2010 school years. The data was collected by New York State Education Department in the Student Information Repository System (SIRS).

REVISED FILE - POSTED 2/19/13 2011-2012 Poverty Data

Poverty data can be a useful tool for districts in estimating the approximate number of students who may experience homelessness. According to the Urban Institute (2001, available here), approximately ten percent of children living in poverty will experience homelessness in a given year.

This spreadsheet includes data broken down for each NYS school district with the following information:

• Estimated number of children ages 5-17 (school-age children) living in poverty
• 10% of children ages 5-17 living in poverty
• Total number of students identified as homeless by the district
• Number of students possibly under-identified as homeless

The poverty data come from the U.S. Census Bureau (see here for more information). The homeless data come from the State Education Department. The number of students possibly under-identified was calculated by subtracting the homeless data from the 10% of children living in poverty data.

Please note that there are many factors outside of poverty that contribute to homelessness (for example, natural disasters, house fires, domestic violence) that may affect the reported number of homeless students. These data should not be viewed as quotas but as rough guidelines to assist school staff and service providers in thinking about the possible prevalence of homelessness in a community.

Looking for information about the RFP and the McKinney-Vento Grant Program?

We have a regularly updated page, here, with links to the recorded webinar, PowerPoint slides, data, and other useful information that could help answer questions.

2013-2016 McKinney Vento Grant Program Announcement of Funding Opportunity

All New York State local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools, are eligible to apply. Applications are due on February 22, 2013. A webinar will be held on January 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM providing further information and answering frequently asked questions. Eligible applicants planning to participate in the Webinar are asked to submit an e-mail of intent with participant's name, telephone number and e-mail contact address to homelessrfp@mail.nysed.gov by January 11, 2013. At that time, you will be contacted via e-mail with information on how to access the webinar.

The NYS-TEACHS McKinney-Vento Spring 2013 webinar training schedule is now posted and registration is open.

Please sign up for the appropriate sessions that interest you.

For information and resources related to students who were affected by Superstorm Sandy, explore the "Info by Topic" section: Disaster Response.

This includes new NYSED guidance and resources for schools and educators to request donations

Know Your Rights! Hurricane Sandy Educational Rights Flier Now in Spanish and Russian. A flier released by NYS-TEACHS with the intent to help families affected by the storm understand their rights and entitlements through the law. Please feel free to spread this far and wide!

New York State Education Department's Hurricane Sandy Webpage

Special Education Advisory: School Districts Impacted by Hurricane Sandy and Requests for Flexibility in Special Education Requirements

This recent advisory was issued in response to inquiries about waivers/flexibility for special education requirements in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The advisory also reviews requirements of LEAs under the McKinney-Vento Act to provide comparable services to enrolling students in temporary housing.

NYS Education Department Field Memo: Extreme Weather Events in New York State and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

This NYSED Field Memo released November 2, 2012, following hurricane Sandy, states that victims who are displaced because of a natural disaster are covered by the McKinney-Vento Act. It details the various rights these students have under the law and the actions that school districts must take to ensure these students receive an education.

Q and A: Information for School Districts Impacted by Severe Weather Events

This FAQ is designed to help school districts that are affected by the severe weather better understand protocol and various issues that arise during these emergencies.

New York City Department of Education - Hurricane Sandy Information

Visit this page for information about New York City students displaced by Hurricane Sandy.

SIMBA Habitat Trip

NYC's SIMBA Academy travels to North Carolina to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

The Groovy Project

Check out this pro-acceptance and anti-bullying message from Madison-Oneida BOCES!

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