A CMS school is identified as Title I if economically disadvantaged services are provided to at least 75% of its students. In the 2011-2012 school year, 60 schools – 42 elementary (includes 8 PreK-8), 11 middle and 7 high – were identified as Title I. This summary provides a comprehensive review of the Title I program, policies, current initiatives and next steps toward improving student achievement at Title I schools across the district. ()
Recently, one of our teaching artists, Ladianne Henderson, was accepted into the ArtPop class of 2015 for her artwork entitled ‘Breakfast’. ArtPop is a program, sponsored by the and , that puts local artists’ work on billboards around the Charlotte, North Carolina area. The image, below, shows a fairly typical southern breakfast – eggs, toast, bacon, and a cup of coffee. The meal sits on a nice plate which rests atop a colorful and inviting placemat.
So, why on earth does some piece of art showing an image of breakfast matter?
There is a chair – but no table for the meal to sit on. There is the idea of a meal, but nothing stable beneath it. And, the image is made of cut and torn paper – utterly inedible material – the same material that facts about kids, and nutrition, and homelessness are written on. The image asks that you think about what it means for kids to have breakfast. How many kids actually have the opportunity to take advantage of meals provided at our district’s Title I schools? How many students are unable to get to school for various reasons, and then find themselves without meals? Far more than you would think.
Homelessness and nutritional challenges are inextricably bound.
In 2002, Congress reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Subtitle VII-B. It sounds terribly academic until you boil the law down into the essential elements that affect school age kids. According to :
This federal law includes the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program that entitles children who are homeless to a free, appropriate public education and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance, and success in school. This Act protects all students who do not have a fixed, regular and adequate residence, such as students living in the following situations:
- doubled-up housing with other families or friends due to hardship;
- runaway/homeless youth shelters (even if parents invite the youth home);
- hotels or motels;
- shelters, including domestic violence shelters;
- transitional housing shelters;
- cars, abandoned buildings parks, the streets or other public spaces;
- campgrounds or inadequate trailer homes
- awaiting foster care placement; and/or
- abandoned in a hospital.
Some key provisions in this federal law are listed below:
- Every LEA must designate a homeless education liaison/coordinator to assist families and school personnel in ensuring that students who are homeless can enroll and succeed in school.
- Schools must immediately enroll students experiencing homelessness, even if they do not have proof of residency, school and immunization records, birth certificates or other documents, and even if they are not accompanied by an adult.
- A student in a homeless situation has the right to stay in his/her school of origin even if (s)he moves out of the district.
- The LEA must arrange transportation for students experiencing homelessness even if the studentâs temporary housing arrangement is out of the district.
- Students experiencing homelessness are eligible, based on individual need, for services provided to other students such as preschool, free or reduced school meals, services for English language learners, special education, vocational/technical education, gifted and talented services, and before- and after-school care.
- Students in homeless situations are automatically eligible for Title I services.
- If there is disagreement as to whether a student experiencing homelessness is eligible to attend the school (s)he chooses (between school of origin and school in the district of his/her new temporary residence), the school district is to provide a written explanation as to why they believe the student is not eligible and allow the student to go to the school (s)he chooses while such disagreements are settled. The LEA liaison/ coordinator is responsible for settling such disagreements.
- Students in homeless situations are to attend schools with children who are not experiencing homelessness rather than be placed in separate schools because they are homeless.
- Students experiencing homelessness are to have the opportunity to meet the same high academic achievement standards as all students.
Academy serves students – brilliant, incredibly creative, fun, lively, unique, caring, giving young people who have so much to offer, but who have had to overcome so many seemingly insurmountable obstacles. If you happen to drive down any of our thoroughfares in the Charlotte area during 2015, and see a billboard showing a picture of breakfast, please think about how homelessness and poverty affect many students in our area. Then, think about how you can contribute to even one student’s life. Here are some ways you can help:
- Volunteer in a local school
- Sign up to volunteer at a nonprofit organization (like Academy!) in our area
- Don’t know where to volunteer? Visit the website to find TONS of great opportunities.
- Get to know your neighbors – strong communities support families. And…strong families support students. We’re all in this together, you know…
Still stumped? Give us a shout! [email protected].
