New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students

Students who transfer schools often do worse in school than those who don't transfer. The McKinney-Vento Act can help solve this problem by allowing students to stay in the same school and get free transportation.

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2008 McKinney-Vento Conferences

NYS-TEACHS and NYSED proudly present our FREE 2008 Homeless Education Conference: Strategies that Benefit Students and Schools.

For the first time ever and with no additional charge, NYS-TEACHS/NYSED McKinney-Vento Conference participants were eligible to earn up to seven (7) continuing education units (CEUs)! CEUs are awarded through the New York State chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Conference Dates and Locations

NEW YORK CITY

March 3, 2008

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

New York's Pennsylvania Hotel

401 7th Avenue at 33rd Street

New York, NY 10001

ROCHESTER

March 13, 2008

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

R.I.T. Inn & Conference Center

5257 West Henrietta Road

West Henrietta, NY 14586

ALBANY

March 25, 2008

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Desmond Hotel and Conference Center

660 Albany Shaker Road

Albany, NY 12211

Conference Schedule

8:00-9:00 a.m. Breakfast & Registration

9:00-9:45 a.m. Introductions & Keynote Speaker

9:45-10:00 a.m. Break

10:00-12:00 p.m. Session 1: Beginner and Advanced McKinney-Vento*

12:00 -1:15 p.m. Lunch on your own

1:15-2:15 p.m. Session 2: Workshops

2:15-2:30 p.m. Break

2:30-3:30 p.m. Session 3: Workshops

3:30-3:45 p.m. Break/ Snack

3:30-4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks

*Conference participants will self-select into a separate Beginner or Advanced session based on their knowledge of the McKinney-Vento Act.

Conference Workshop Descriptions

McKinney-Vento: Introduction to the Educational Rights of Students in Temporary Housing

In this workshop, we will discuss successful strategies for meeting the needs of students protected by the McKinney-Vento Act and find out the facts about schools' responsibilities toward students in temporary housing. This workshop is designed for professionals and liaisons who are new to the field as well as seasoned staff who need a basic refresher about the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act and NYS Education Law Section 3209. Topics include:

1. Who is protected by the McKinney-Vento Act
2. Identification strategies (including the new enrollment form)
3. Students' school selection choices
4. Enrollment rights
5. Transportation strategies
6. The dispute resolution process - due process required
7. The role of the Homeless Liaison

McKinney-Vento: Questions and Answers for the Experienced

This workshop - intended for those with an already solid grasp of the Act and to aid professionals faced with uncertain/ambiguous cases - will highlight the purposes driving McKinney-Vento. The workshop will consist of Q&A as well as scenarios of varying complexity. Topics include:

1. Enrollment and problems related to documentation
2. Identification strategies (including the new enrollment form)
3. Duration of McKinney-Vento mandated services
4. Educational access for unaccompanied homeless youth
5. Transportation - timeliness, appropriate arrangements
6. Potentially competing mandates faced by liaisons
7. Due process requirement - Dispute resolution process

For Liaisons, by Liaisons: The Ins and Outs of Liaison Responsibilities

LEA liaisons play an integral role in the identification, designation, and enrollment of students experiencing homelessness. Led by an experienced liaison, this workshop includes model policies that districts can implement in order to contend with common obstacles to the designation, enrollment and due process rights of students who are homeless. The workshop includes a review of the data collection procedures required by SED, such as an enrollment form that identifies doubled-up, unaccompanied youth, etc, STAC forms, the new Datawarehouse, BEDS, and more.

Transportation: How, When, and Who's Responsible?

Transportation is one of the most significant challenges facing students experiencing homelessness relating to their full participation in school. This workshop provides detailed information about transportation obligations, including who is fiscally responsible for a student's transportation in a variety of situations. Join us for a discussion to learn more about transportation for students in temporary housing, including strategies to help schools meet their transportation obligations.

Are They Homeless? Making the Tough Calls

This workshop will help participants determine the types of situations in which students should be designated as homeless. Workshop attendees will be presented, by way of video, transcript, and role-plays, with a series of scenarios drawn from real-life accounts. These activities are intended to confirm and challenge your present understanding of the definition of homelessness, so please be prepared for flexible thinking! Q&A will follow the scenarios, but the bulk of the presentation will require participants to navigate the Act's "black and white" and "grey" areas.

Identifying and Serving Unaccompanied Youth: Rights and Responsibilities of Students and Schools

Though unaccompanied homeless youth have important legal protections, many service providers can attest to the challenges involved in identifying and serving this population. This workshop will provide an up-to-date overview of the rights and duties of youth and adults, as well as a forum to discuss some of the most frequently asked youth-law questions. In this workshop, we will discuss common school district concerns regarding the rights of minors, including:

• Due process rights of unaccompanied youth;
• When minors can petition and/or give consent independently of their legal guardians;
• How to handle permission slips, excused absences, and medical care for unaccompanied homeless students; and
• What to do to address school concerns about liability, child welfare, parental authority and privacy.