The LEA or homeless agency may use
funds awarded for activities to carry out the purpose of this subtitle,
including:
- Tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other educational services
that help homeless children and youth reach the same challenging
State content and State student performance standards to which all children
are held. As clearly specified in the ESEA, as reauthorized by the
NCLB
Act, all academic enrichment programs for disadvantaged students,
including programs for homeless students, must be aligned with State
standards
and curricula. Additionally, when offering supplemental instruction,
LEAs should focus on providing services for children and youth that
reflect scientifically based research as the foundation for programs
and strategies
to ensure academic success.
- Expedited evaluations of eligible students
to measure their strengths and needs. These evaluations should be
done promptly in order to avoid
a gap in the provision of necessary services to those children and
youth. Evaluations may also determine a homeless child or youth’s
eligibility for other programs and services, including educational
programs for gifted
and talented students, special education and related services for
children with disabilities, English language acquisition, vocational
education,
school lunch, and appropriate programs or services under ESEA.
- Programs
and other activities designed to raise awareness among educators
and pupil services personnel of the rights of homeless children and
youth
under the McKinney-Vento Act, and the special needs such children
and youth have as a result of their homelessness.
- Referrals of eligible
students to medical, dental, mental, and other health services.
- Paying
the excess cost of transportation not otherwise provided through
Federal, State, or local funds, to enable students to attend schools
selected under section 722(g)(3) of the McKinney-Vento Act.
- Developmentally
appropriate early childhood education programs for homeless children
of preschool age that are not provided through other
Federal, State, or local funds.
- Services and assistance to attract,
engage, and retain homeless children and youth, and unaccompanied
youth, in public school programs and services
provided to non-homeless children and youth.
- Before- and after-school
programs, mentoring, and summer programs for homeless children
and youth. Qualified personnel may provide homework
assistance, tutoring, and supervision of other educational instruction
in carrying out these activities.
- Paying fees and costs associated
with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records necessary for
the enrollment of students in school. The records
may include birth certificates, guardianship records, immunization
records, academic records, and evaluations of students needed to
determine eligibility
for other programs and services.
- Education and training programs for
parents of homeless children and youth regarding the rights their
children have as homeless individuals
and regarding the educational and other resources available to
their children.
- Programs coordinating services provided by schools and other
agencies to eligible students in order to expand and enhance such
services. Coordination
with programs funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act should
be included in this effort.
- Pupil services programs providing violence
prevention counseling and referrals to such counseling.
- Programs addressing
the particular needs of eligible students that may arise from domestic
violence.
- Providing supplies to non-school facilities serving eligible
students and adapting these facilities to enable them to provide
services.
- Providing school supplies to eligible students at shelters, temporary
housing facilities, and other locations as appropriate.
- Providing extraordinary
or emergency services to eligible students as necessary to enroll
and retain such children and youth in school.
These activities are outlined
in the July 2004 McKinney – Vento
Homeless Assistance Act Guidance. This guidance is available online at
http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/guidance.pdf.
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