New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students

New Issue Brief: Increasing Access to Higher Education for Unaccompanied Youth [PDF]

This new issue brief is part of the National Center for Homeless Education's (NCHE) Best Practices in Homeless Education series. The guide provides a better understanding of unaccompanied homeless youth and the educational and other challenges they face, a summary of federal legislation, and samples of promising practices implemented by high schools, colleges, and universities to assist unaccompanied homeless youth in succeeding in college.

Finalized 2008-2009 BEDS Data on Homelessness

Finalized BEDS data for the 2008-2009 school year is now available for New York school districts, charter schools and New York City schools.

In School, Homeless Kids Face A Different Test.

NYS-TEACHS Project Director, Jennifer Pringle, is quoted in this article and talks about the importance of school stability.

McKinney-Vento Field Memo Re: NYC Charter School Lottery Preference for Homeless Students - July 2010 [PDF]

In New York City, charter schools must give preference in their admissions lotteries to students living in the community school district in which the charter school is located. This July 2010 Field Memo from the State Education Department discusses in which community school districts children who are homeless may claim preference in order to participate fully in these lotteries.

Concern over students switching schools.

This article illustrates a link between turnover and lower scores among the student body.

2010-13 McKinney-Vento Grant - Request for Proposals

NYS-TEACHS is pleased to announce that the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has released a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2010-2013 McKinney-Vento grant funding cycle.

Memo from the State Education Department - Elementary and Intermediate-Level Testing Dates for 2010-11 [PDF]

July 2010 Memo from the State Education Department lists Elementary and Intermediate-Level testing dates for the 2010-11 school year.

Abandoned by his family and left homeless and alone, Orayne Williams earns college scholarship.

This article illustrates a student's ability to succeed in school despite his housing status.

Memo from the State Education Department - Regents Dates [PDF]

This June 2010 Memo from the State Education Department lists Regents Examination Dates for January, June and August 2011-2013.

New Issue Brief: Ensuring Full Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities for Students Experiencing Homelessness [PDF]

This new issue brief is part of the National Center for Homeless Education's Best Practices in Homeless Education series. The guide assists local homeless education liaisons and school district administrators in ensuring that children and youth experiencing homelessness can overcome the barriers they often encounter to full extra-curricular participation in school.

McKinney-Vento Field Memo Re: Universal Pre-K Programs for Homeless Students [PDF]

This May 2010 Field Memo from the State Education Department discusses strategies districts are encouraged to use to help ensure that children who are homeless can access pre-kindergarten programs.

Appeal Sample Evidence

Sometimes, disputes arise about whether a student meets the definition of a homeless child under McKinney-Vento. In these cases, the parent, legal guardian, or unaccompanied youth can appeal the school district's final determination regarding enrollment, school selection, and/or transportation to the Commissioner of Education. This document provides a list of examples of evidence that a parent, legal guardian, or unaccompanied youth may include in an appeal in order to show that the student is homeless under McKinney-Vento.

Homeless Testing Memo

David Abrams, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Standards, Assessment and Reporting, and Roberto Reyes, Director of Title I School and Community Services, released this April 2010 memo to school administrators regarding the potential barriers confronting homeless students taking state assessments. School administrators, along with state agencies providing services to homeless students, should be well aware of state testing requirements and test schedules and work to make sure that homeless students are not denied access to these examinations in any way.

NYS-TEACHS' Jared Stein Interviewed on WBAI's Wakeup Call

Esther Armah from WBAI New York (99.5 FM, NYC) interviewed NYS-TEACHS' Associate Director Jared Stein on the McKinney-Vento Act and the work of NYS-TEACHS in a program about students experiencing homelessness for the WBAI Wakeup Call segment. Jared spoke about the importance of educational stability, the ways in which barriers to consistent participation in school are addressed by the McKinney-Vento Act, and the history of the law. Also interviewed are Venicia Wilson from P.S. 332 in Brooklyn and UFT President, Michael Mulgrew. The segment begins at the 3:30 minute-mark in the program and the interview with Jared begins at the 9:30 minute-mark.

Sarah Benjamin of Eastern Suffolk BOCES Selected for Prestigious Fellowship

The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) profiles Sarah's work in their April newsletter.

A Parish Tested - Haitian-American Homes Bulge With Displaced Relatives.

An article that illustrates how Haitian-Ameican families are helping those families displaced by the recent Haitian earthquakes.

*Click here for important information about students displaced by the earthquakes in Haiti*

Last Refuge for the Homeless: Living in the Car.

An interesting article about the increasing number of homeless families across the country.

NYS-TEACHS Project Director Honored

NYS-TEACHS would like to congratulate Jennifer Pringle on receiving the 2009 Distinguished Service and Leadership Award from the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) given to exceptional individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the education of homeless children and youth.

Address Unknown: How do you assign homework to a kid without a home?

A thoughtful piece from the National Education Association about the struggles of excelling as a homeless student and how school personnel can help.

To Homeless Students Schools Can Offer Hope

For homeless students in Brooklyn, school provides a safe haven.

Surge in Homeless Pupils Strains Schools

The New York Times describes how the McKinney-Vento Act provides educational stability for increasing numbers of homeless students.