Advantages & Disadvantages
Students who meet criteria of ‘homelessness’ face the risk of being ridiculed, ostracized, or stigmatized if others learn of their situation. Districts have the responsibility to provide protection for these students in order for them to have the same opportunities as their peers. Each school is required to identify their liaison and make families aware of the benefits available to them if they are in a homeless environment regardless of the length of time. The challenge is to maintain confidentiality while at the same time meeting the need and being able to reinforce the advantages (based on Standards provided by the U. S. Department of Education’s Government Performance Results Act) and lessen the disadvantages which are often the result of schools not enforcing the standards.
Advantages for students and families include:
• School providing services to families in shelters through organizations and partnerships with the school, or individuals affiliated with the school (services also include assisting parents with resources to participate in their child’s education, including transportation)
• Immediate enrollment in the child’s home-based school, or school of choice (the liaison will assist families if they have no records or required necessary documents without impeding enrollment)
• If families become homeless during the school year, the school can maintain the child’s enrollment in the same school and assist the family with specific needs that will ease their transition (often, there are emergency temporary medical, food and housing assists the liaison has knowledge of and will aid the families in the process)
• In the event the school is unable to immediately provide the necessary services, the liaison will assist the school to meet the needs
Disadvantages for students and families include:
• Schools not identifying the liaison responsible to assist families meeting criteria of ‘homelessness’ as defined by the McKinney-Vento Programs
• A lack of confidentiality regarding the families circumstances
• Staff and students creating an environment in which the student experiencing homelessness feels negative about their current situation
• Students treated differently than peers for extracurricular activities (field trips, etc.)
• Roadblocks that hinder the student’s academic success with no support from the school
In addition to the proper execution of upholding the Standards of the McKinney-Vento Program, districts must ensure there is an ongoing evaluation process in place that will provide guidance in executing the following five standards:
Standard 1. Within one full day of an attempt to enroll in a school, homeless children and youth will be in attendance
Standard 2. Homeless pre-k to 12 children and youth will have stability in school
Standard 3. Homeless children and youth will receive specialized services when eligible
Standard 4. Parents or persons acting as parents of homeless children and youth will participate meaningfully in their children’s education
Standard 5. Homeless children and youth in grades 3-12 will meet their states’ academic standards
Advantages for students and families include:
• School providing services to families in shelters through organizations and partnerships with the school, or individuals affiliated with the school (services also include assisting parents with resources to participate in their child’s education, including transportation)
• Immediate enrollment in the child’s home-based school, or school of choice (the liaison will assist families if they have no records or required necessary documents without impeding enrollment)
• If families become homeless during the school year, the school can maintain the child’s enrollment in the same school and assist the family with specific needs that will ease their transition (often, there are emergency temporary medical, food and housing assists the liaison has knowledge of and will aid the families in the process)
• In the event the school is unable to immediately provide the necessary services, the liaison will assist the school to meet the needs
Disadvantages for students and families include:
• Schools not identifying the liaison responsible to assist families meeting criteria of ‘homelessness’ as defined by the McKinney-Vento Programs
• A lack of confidentiality regarding the families circumstances
• Staff and students creating an environment in which the student experiencing homelessness feels negative about their current situation
• Students treated differently than peers for extracurricular activities (field trips, etc.)
• Roadblocks that hinder the student’s academic success with no support from the school
In addition to the proper execution of upholding the Standards of the McKinney-Vento Program, districts must ensure there is an ongoing evaluation process in place that will provide guidance in executing the following five standards:
Standard 1. Within one full day of an attempt to enroll in a school, homeless children and youth will be in attendance
Standard 2. Homeless pre-k to 12 children and youth will have stability in school
Standard 3. Homeless children and youth will receive specialized services when eligible
Standard 4. Parents or persons acting as parents of homeless children and youth will participate meaningfully in their children’s education
Standard 5. Homeless children and youth in grades 3-12 will meet their states’ academic standards