by Carol Leish, MA
The Homeless Education Program of the Ventura County Office of Education, according to Cathi Nye, MA, the County Coordinator, “support all 20 school districts and 12 charter schools in Ventura County. This is accomplished through providing technical assistance, support, and managing the grants.”
“Over 6,800 students have been identified to receive assistance in the program. That number includes children living in double households (more than one family sharing a single-family home), which is over 80% of who we serve. 10% of students that we serve are living in cars and RV’s and motels or hotels, or in a shelter or transitional housing. We do offer resources to the local housing authority for families to get information needed to help their housing situations.”
Children and youth experiencing homelessness face unique challenges in accessing and succeeding in school. The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which passed in 1987, and Title 1 Part A, provide students experiencing homelessness with protections and services to ensure that they can enroll in and attend school, complete their high school education, and continue to higher education.
The ’Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015’ (ESSA), strengthen and improves these programs and the education of over 1.3 million children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood (HeadStart), through high school graduation. It makes sure that every student has access to a quality public education regardless of where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make.
Your child may be eligible for extra services at school. This would include: 1) Keeping your child in the last school he or she attended even if that school is in another district, since it is your decision to determine what is in your child’s best interest and, 2) Providing free school meals. Two other services would be: 1) Identifying transportation needs and working with the parent/guardian to ensure that those needs are met would be another extra service provided and 2) Providing school uniforms, supplies, and access to all school activities would be another service that your child may be eligible for.
“There is an annual event through United Way, ‘Stuff the Buss,’ which is a way to get needed backpacks and school supplies for the students in need,” according to Nye. “I also do a newsletter every other week. The one that I am currently working on focuses on how we can help brothers and sisters in the same home as the students already receiving services.”
“We just completed a coat drive. We are now looking for donated gift cards to give to students over the holidays, including kids in shelters. We will be grateful to receive gift cards up to $25 each, especially for fast food restaurants, Target, and Walmart. In the Springtime of 2024, we will be putting together hygiene kits for students. By giving, you are supporting an important cause to improve situations for these students, especially during the holiday season.”
For further information, please go to: https://www.vcoe.org/Special-Populations/Homeless-Education-Program. Contact Cathi Nye, MA, at either: [email protected] or by calling: 805-437-1559.
Thank you for caring enough to make a change for the better for these students.
