Goal Setting

1
Mr. and Mrs. Martins home burns down in mid
July. They make minimum wage and cannot get
rental property due to a history of evictions, so
they stay at an inexpensive motel, while they
decide on their next move. They go to the local
housing authority to try to get some housing
assistance. They are told that they do not
qualify as they are able to pay for their own
motel room. They go to their childrens school
to enroll the children at the beginning of the
school year, but are told the motel is not in
their old attendance zone, and since they lost
housing in the summer, MV school of origin
doesnt apply, so they must enroll in the
district where the motel is located. The family
has an 11 year old and a 15 year old. You are
the liaison at the childrens old school. Your
administrator tells you that you must direct this
family to enroll in the district where the motel
is located. As the family doesnt know about MV
you are told that you shouldnt inform them.
Transportation for the kids will be quite
expensive as they go to different schools, both
far from the motel. Are the children homeless?
Why or why not? Are they unaccompanied? How do
you proceed at school? How do you address the
administrator? What do you tell the family? How
might you help this family find permanent
housing?
2
Jane, a single mother with two school aged
children loses her job due to excessive absences
which she incurs while caring for her sick
mother. She does not have the money to make her
rent, and is evicted, so she and the children,
ages 14 16, move into her mothers home where
she can continue her care. Her mothers home is
not in the childrens school district. Once the
campus finds out the children are no longer
living in the residency zone, Jane is informed
that she must enroll the children in the district
where her moms house is located. Jane contends
her children are MV eligible and can stay in
their school. The principal tells Jane that she
chose to move in with her mother and is thus not
eligible under MV. Jane contacts the homeless
liaison for assistance. The liaison tells Jane
that she cannot counterman the principals
decision as she, the Liaison is an employee of
the district and might lose her job as this
principal doesnt like her anyway. The liaison
documents on the Student Residency Questionnaire
that mom completed that she is living with her
mother as a choice and not out of necessity. Is
this family homeless? Why or why not? Are the
children unaccompanied?
3
Jane and Ellen are friends. Both are 17 years
old. Both have been kicked out of their homes.
They decide to sublet an apartment from a guy
they know, as they are too young to get a lease
on their own. They both work part-time jobs and
are able to pay the lower rent on this apartment.
They arent able to pay for utilities too
though, so, they do not have electricity at the
moment. Both girls are in high school, but the
apartment is not in their attendance zone. Both
girls want to graduate with their class. They go
to the housing authority to get utility
assistance, but are told they are under age and
dont qualify. They do not tell their current
school that they are no longer living in the
district, but the school finds out and threatens
the girls with fraudulent behavior and falsifying
residency records. The girls stop going to
school because they are afraid of being arrested
for fraud. They are afraid to enroll in the
zoned school because they are afraid they will
report them to the old school. They decide they
will just get a GED at some point and ask their
employer for more day-time hours since they are
no longer in school. One of their friends comes
to you the homeless liaison at their current
school to tell you about the girls
situation. Are the girls homeless? Why or why
not? Are they unaccompanied?
4
Susan, age 16, has a fight with her mother and
leaves home without her mothers permission. She
stays with various friends a few nights here and
a few nights there. She attempts to enroll in
the district where her boyfriend attends. The
registrar tells her she cannot enroll herself and
must go back to the school of residency where her
parents live. The Principal of the school tells
the homeless liaison that he supports the
registrars decision. Since Susan chose to
leave home, she isnt MV eligible. The principal
feels she has a perfectly good home to go to and
its her choice to leave it. The principal tell
the liaison not to intervene. The liaison goes
to her supervisor who supports the principals
decision. Is the Principal correct? Why or why
not? Is Susan an Unaccompanied youth? Is she MV
eligible? Why or why not? Must the school report
Susan as a runaway?
5
CPS asked the Jones family to take their
grandchildren in while they investigate
allegations of abuse against their mother. The
grandparents take the children to the school near
their home. The registrar tells the grandparents
that they cannot enroll the children, that they
must first get guardianship of the children. The
grandparents take the children back to their old
school, but dont mention to the school what is
going on. The grandparents provide
transportation everyday to and from school. This
takes its toll on the grandparents as they are
living on a fixed income and the gas costs on top
of caring for the children are biting into their
meager income. The childrens old school learns
through the children that they are living with
their grandparents out of district. They call
the grandparents to come get the kids as they can
no longer go to that school. Are the children
homeless? Why or why not? Are they
unaccompanied? Was the registrar in their
district correct about guardianship? Is the
registrar at the students old district correct
about withdrawing the children?
6
Bob is 16 years old. He gets into a fight with
his father, an affluent lawyer in town. Bobs
father tells his son to just get out. Bob goes
to stay with a friend. He spends a few nights on
his friends couch in another school district.
Bobs teacher learns about his situation and
calls you to see what can be done to help Bob.
You code Bob as homeless and unaccompanied.
Bobs father comes to school and is very angry
that you identified him as homeless and that your
school is transporting Bob from his friends
house to school. Bobs father withdraws Bob. Bob
re-enrolls himself. Bobs father withdraws him
again. The principal tells Bob he cannot keep
re-enrolling himself as it is an administrative
nightmare and the district does not want to deal
with a law suit from his father. Is he
McKinney-Vento eligible (homeless)? Why or why
not? Is Bob unaccompanied? Can Bob re-enroll
himself? How many times? Should you change the
coding on Bob? Should you remove transportation
services? How do you respond when Bobs father
says you are enabling his son to be a runaway?
7
Alice, age 19, moves in with her boyfriend and
his family after her mother kicks her out of the
house. She attempts to enroll where her boyfriend
goes to school. This is not the district where
her parents live. Nor where her boyfriends
family is living, as her boyfriend is attending
his school of origin as his family was homeless
earlier in the school year, though they now are
renting their own apartment. The registrar tells
her she cannot just pick any district she wants
to enroll in that she can enroll in the district
where her boyfriends parents reside since thats
where she is staying. Alice wants to play
basketball at the new school. She is told she
will have to sit out the year. As Alice is a
senior, this will mean the end of her chances at
a basketball scholarship. Is Susan MV eligible?
Why or why not? Is Susan Unaccompanied? Is the
registrar correct? What are Susans options for
school enrollment? What about transportation? What
about basketball?
8

Tony Jones, a tenth-grader, who was displaced by
hurricane Katrina, and his family moved to your
district right after the storm four years ago.
Your district identified Tony as homeless and
therefore eligible for McKinney-Vento services
due to the loss of his home because of the storm.
Tonys family intends to return to New Orleans
as soon as they can afford to do so. They have
not been able to make enough money in Texas to
sustain their family. Tonys family recently
moved into a home that has no running water or
electricity, but the rent is all they can afford.
The parents attempt to enroll Tony in the
school he is zoned to, but the school is doing
assessment testing this week and ask them to come
back next week after the testing days to then
enroll Tony. Is Tony still considered homeless
under USDE guidelines after 4 years? Why or why
not? How would you make this decision? Is Tony
unaccompanied? Should the school wait until after
testing to enroll Tony?
9

Ron Anderson calls you to see if you can help
him keep his 7 year old son in the school he
attended last year. The district boundaries have
changed and now his son is zoned to a campus 40
minutes away with normal traffic. His old school
is 6 blocks from their home, but says it does not
do transfers. Mr. Anderson is a single parent
with a minimum wage job. His apartment rent is
only 300 as he is renting from a relative. He
states he cannot move into the zone for his sons
old school because he cannot afford to do so.
Also, his aunt does childcare for his son as she
lives close by the school and picks his son up
from is after school program. She wont be able
to do this with the child at the school 40
minutes away, and that school does not provide
transportation from its after school program.
Father calls you for assistance. You the
homeless liaison feel for this father and his
situation. You believe it is in the childs best
interest to stay in his current school. You tell
the father to say he is homeless and living with
the aunt. He is sure his aunt will back him up
on this story. They cannot actually move in with
the aunt as she does not have room for them, and
while willing to do childcare after school, she
is not willing to have them live with her. Are
Mr. Anderson and his son considered homeless?
Why or why not? What things would you take into
consideration? Is his son unaccompanied? What
sort of assistance might the school be able to
offer in this circumstance?
10

• A school counselor calls you about a 14-year-old
  student who attends your district school. The
  student was just removed from her home by CPS and
  has been placed in a shelter in another district,
  while they attempt to find her a home. She wants
  to continue attending the same school. Neither
  district provides transportation to high school
  students. This student tells the shelter she
  will run away if she cannot stay in her school.
  You are a shelter worker trying to help the
  student. You havent been able to reach the CPS
  caseworker. You contact the school the student
  was attending and are told that since she is no
  longer living in the district she cannot continue
  to go there.
• The school tells you that the girl is a
  trouble-maker and does very poorly in her
  studies, and is not the kind of student the
  school wants.
• The school also tells you that since CPS has
  temporary custody the student isnt considered MV
  eligible.
• Is this student homeless and MV eligible? Why
  or why not?
• Is she unaccompanied?
• Can she remain in her same school?
• Who must provide transportation and how will it
  be paid?
• Who is her legal parent or guardian?

11
2
Jesse Montoya, 15 was living with his parents
near Juarez. This summer, his parents sent him
to stay with his aunt and uncle to escape the
violence in their small town. His aunt brings him
in to register for school in August. The
Registrar tells them that he cannot enroll
without a parent or guardian and without his
birth certificate. Also, he needs his
immunization records prior to enrollment. Jesse
isnt sure he has been immunized. The registrar
talks to the principal who decides that the
school should turn Jesse in to INS as he is not
documented. Is Jesse considered homeless? Why
or why not? Is Jesse unaccompanied? Can Jesse
enroll without a parent or guardian? Can Jesse
enroll without school records, a birth
certificate or immunizations? What is your
obligation regarding Jesses immigration status?
12
3
Mary Lou, 17 is living in a van. She ran away
from home because of her stepfathers abuse.
Mary Lou wants to enroll in your district. She
believes she was immunized in Arkansas where she
lived with her mother and stepfather. She cannot
afford to get her records from Arkansas since she
owes a book fine of 47. She is afraid to
contact the school in case it notifies her mother
and stepfather. The school registrar tells Mary
Lou that she cannot enroll without a parent or
guardian, and she needs to park her van
elsewhere. Is Mary Lou MV eligible? Why or why
not? Is Mary Lou unaccompanied? Is the registrar
correct? Can Mary Lou enroll without a parent or
guardian? Must you contact CPS regarding her
disclosure of the stepfathers abuse? Must you
report her as a runaway? How will you get her
school records from Arkansas? Can she remain in
school if she was not immunized?
13

CPS removed the Garza children from their single
mother who is charged with endangerment due to
drug use. Their aunt Susan agrees to take the
children. CPS dropped them off three weeks ago
and Susan has not heard anything definitive about
their case. Their mother is in jail. In August,
Susan takes the children, ages 16 and 12 to
register in her district. The registrar tells
her she cannot enroll the children as she is not
their legal guardian. Susan tells the registrar
that she is a foster home placement by CPS. The
registrar tells her she must get CPS to come
enroll the children. The registrar does not
believe the students are McKinney-Vento eligible.
Are the students homeless and MV eligible?
Why or why not? Are the students
unaccompanied? Is the registrar correct CPS must
enroll the children? Is Susans home a foster
home? How would you know? Can Susan enroll the
children without legal guardianship? How will you
get the childrens school records? If the
children have not had all their immunizations,
can they be enrolled?
14

Jimmy, age 17 ran away from foster care for the
third time. He is staying between the houses of
two aunts. CPS has custody and knows where he
is, but is not going to return him to a foster
home. He goes to enroll in school. The
registrar tells him he must get CPS or one of his
aunts to come in to enroll him. Jimmy calls the
CPS Education Specialist who tells him that he
does not need either CPS or his aunts to enroll
him as he is McKinney-Vento eligible - doubled-up
with his aunts. Jimmy goes back to school and
tells the registrar what the CPS Education
Specialist said. The Registrar goes to her
principal who comes out and grills Jimmy on his
intentions to remain in school and tells Jimmy
that they dont want him to enroll if he isnt
motivated to attend regularly and complete his
education. The principal tells him he should
just get his G.E.D. since he is way short of
credits. Is Jimmy homeless and McKinney-Vento
eligible? Why or why not? Is Jimmy and
unaccompanied youth? Who is Jimmys legal
parent/guardian? Does he need his legal
parent/guardians signature to enroll? Does he
need proof of residency to enroll? Should the
principal make sure he is motivated to attend
school prior to enrolling him? Is the principal
correct that a G.E.D. is the best option for
Jimmy?
15

Mark, age 16 was living last school year with his
mother who passed away. His Aunt in another
district took him in and arranged for him to be
transferred to his old school. Mark ran away
from his aunts home where he has been living for
3 months. He has not been attending regularly
since leaving the aunts home and is often late
for school. He refuses to tell the school where
he is staying. The principal tells the counselor
to withdraw the transfer for Mark as he will do
very poorly on the upcoming assessment testing
and his grades are suffering. The principal
thinks that Mark is on his way to being a
drop-out and doesnt want his school to have to
deal with that. He tells Mark that he must
enroll in the district where his aunt lives, or
wherever he is currently staying. Is Mark
homeless, MV eligible? Why or why not? Is Mark
unaccompanied? Should Mark be treated as a
transfer student? Is the principal correct to
protect his district from enrolling a potential
drop-out? Is the principal correct to encourage
Mark to enroll in a residency zone school?
16

You are doing training at a school district where
the following issues are brought up School
personnel say that they do not want the MV
rights posters on campuses as families/students
are using MV provisions to enroll in the
district as this district is so much better than
the surrounding districts - educationally, has a
great art program, show choir, and sports
teams. School personnel say that they do not
have time to investigate every situation but they
know there is fraud occurring. They say that the
word is getting around how to use MV and that
people know that the school wont investigate
because they dont have the staff to do
so. Staff say they know students arent homeless
because they come to school in designer clothing
and shoes and the parents drive nice cars. They
make sure the kids cannot play sports at the
district in order to discourage this fraudulent
enrollment practice. How do you respond to these
issues?
17

You receive a phone call from a parent who is
having difficulty enrolling her daughters in
school. She tells you that she is living in her
truck with her two teenage daughters due to
domestic violence. A friend told her to go to
the school and make up an address. The registrar
recognized that it wasnt the address on the
moms license and mom had no other documents.
The registrar checked the map and found that the
address supposedly near the school does not
exist. The registrar tells the mother she is a
liar and a cheat and cannot enroll her daughters
in their district. The mom leave, taking her
daughters to an air conditioned library for the
day where she sees a poster on McKinney-Vento.
She gets on the computer there and learns about
the MV act and her daughters rights. She prints
the information and takes it to the school to
again register her daughters. While she is in
line, she shares the information with other
parents. The registrar is furious that she is
sharing this information with other parents in
line. The registrar calls the homeless liaison
who talks to the mother, then tells the registrar
that the mother is indeed homeless and the girls
must be enrolled immediately without proof of
residency. The registrar calls the acting
superintendent to tell her that a mom is
committing fraud. The acting superintendent
tells the registrar not to enroll the students.
The superintendent then calls the homeless
liaison and tells her to stay out of the
situation. The homeless liaison tells the mother
she will lose her job if she further gets
involved, but gives the mom the number to the
state office on homeless education. Are the
girls homeless and MV eligible? Why or why
not? Are the girls unaccompanied? How many things
can you find wrong with this picture?
18

You receive a phone call from a student who is
having difficulty enrolling in school. The
student says she is not being allowed to enroll
without parent signature or proof of residency.
She is living with a friend after her mother
kicked her out of their home. You contact the
registrar to tell her about MV. The registrar
tells you that she didnt actually tell the
student she couldnt enroll, she just told the
student that the school needed the signature and
documentation. Then the student just left. Is
the student homeless and MV eligible? Why or why
not? Is the student unaccompanied? What should
the registrar have done?
19


You have been counseling an eighth grade student
who is failing her classes. She doesnt complete
assignments and is often tardy or absent. She
tells you that she cannot talk to her parents and
that you are the only one she trusts. She
confides in you that she is sexually active as
well as experimenting with drugs. Her mother has
requested a conference with you this week to
discuss her daughters academic progress. The
student begs you not to tell her mother about her
disclosures. What are the ethical
considerations? What does your professions Code
of Ethics say about this situation? Is there a
FERPA issue? What would you do?
20


The homeless liaison overhears a teacher in the
break room tell other teachers that one of her
students disclosed to her that their family has
lost their home due to her fathers gambling and
the family is living in a motel. This teacher
found out about the situation several weeks ago.
She is loudly expressing a great deal of
negativity toward the father. Is this student
homeless? Is the student unaccompanied? How
would you handle coding this student as homeless
and offering services if it isnt the student or
family that is telling you they are in the
situation? What do you do if the family says
they do not want to be identified as homeless? Is
there a FERPA issue? What would you say to this
teacher? What would you do to engage and help the
family?