District Survey

District Survey Questions

This survey is part of an evaluation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program, as authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Title VII, Subtitle B, as amended (McKinney-Vento Act). Surveys were sent to a randomly selected sample of districts across the United States. Its purpose is to get your perspective, as district liaison, on implementation of the program in your district. (In this survey the term “district” refers to your Local Education Agency.) The survey will ask about the collection and use of data on homeless children and youth, the barriers facing homeless children and youth, and efforts to address those barriers. As a recipient of an EHCY Program subgrant, your participation in the survey is required under ESEA, Sec. 9804(a) (4). Include for subgrantees only] The findings will provide useful information on the program to the U.S. Department of Education, practitioners, and others.

Responses to this survey will be used for statistical purposes only. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific state, district, or individual. The evaluator will not provide information that identifies a state, district, or individual to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law. Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality of the information collected.

We estimate that this survey will take approximately 35 minutes to complete. You may fill out the survey all at once, or in multiple sittings.  If you fill out the survey in multiple sittings, use the link provided to you in the email from [SENDER] to return to the survey. You will automatically go to the last page of the survey where you left off. 

Please read and follow the directions for responding to each survey item.  You can use the scroll bar on the right-hand side of the page to navigate among survey items.  Click on the buttons at the bottom of the page to proceed through the survey.  Note that you can review and/or edit your responses to previous items by clicking on the “Previous Page” button at the bottom of each page.  When you have completed the survey, click on “Submit Survey.”  Once you have submitted your survey, you will not be able to change your responses.

Thank you for taking this survey.

Background

(NOTE: All the questions in this survey refer to the 2010-2011 school year (SY), unless otherwise specified.)

1.) Do you work for the district as a (select one.)

• Full-time employee? (Number of hours______)

• Part-time employee? (Number of hours_______)

• Contractual employee? (Number of hours_____)

2.) On average, how many hours do you spend per week on your district liaison (the “district liaison” is the person responsible for ensuring EHCY requirements are carried out in your school or district) responsibilities for the EHCY Program?

_______hours

3.) In addition to your responsibilities as district liaison, on what other areas within the district do you spend at least 10 hours a week? (Select all that apply.)

• Curriculum and instruction

• Accountability and assessment

• Special education

• Title I

• English Language Learners (ELL)

• Migrant education

• Superintendent or deputy superintendent duties

• Parent involvement

• Safe and Drug Free Schools

• School counseling

• Other (Please specify.)

• No other areas

4.) How long have you been the district liaison for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program?

_________Number of years (If less than one year, write “Less than one year.”)

5.) Below is a list of possible district liaison responsibilities. On which responsibilities do you spend the most time? Rank up to three of the responsibilities so that "1" is the one you spend the most time on, "2" is the one you spend the second most time on, and "3" is the one you spend the third most time on.

Responsibilities	Rank up to THREE responsibilities on which you spend the most time
Identifying, or helping others identify, homeless children and youth
Enrolling, or helping others enroll, homeless children and youth in school and mediating enrollment disputes
Obtaining, or helping others obtain, immunization or medical records
Ensuring that homeless children and youth and their families receive the educational services for which they are eligible
Ensuring homeless children and youth and their families receive health referrals
Informing parents or guardians of homeless children and youth of the educational and related opportunities available to them
Coordinating transportation services
Informing parents or guardians of homeless children and youth of all the transportation services available
Disseminating public notice of the educational rights of homeless children and youth
Collaborating and coordinating with the state coordinator for the EHCY Program
Collaborating and coordinating with local government agencies and community-based organizations to provide support services to homeless families
Working with families to access support services through local government agencies and community-based organizations
Collecting, or helping others collect, data on homeless children and youth
Other (Please specify.)

6.) Do any district staff besides you help administer the EHCY program? (Select one.)

• Yes (Number ______)

• No

• Don’t know

7.) Where does funding for your work as district liaison come from? (Select all that apply.)

• McKinney-Vento funds

• District (i.e., from the general operating budget of your school district, or from a consortium of districts)

• State Education Agency (SEA)

• Title I under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (as reauthorized under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002)

• U.S. Department of Education program funds other than McKinney-Vento and Title I

• U.S. Housing and Urban Development program funds

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program funds

• Other federal program funds (Please specify)

• Grants from non-profit foundations and community-based organizations

• In-kind services from community-based organizations

• Other (Please specify.)

• Don’t know

8.) Does your district currently receive a McKinney-Vento subgrant and/or support or services for the EHCY Program through an intermediate educational agency or consortium arrangement? (Select all that apply.)

• Yes, we receive a McKinney subgrant through an intermediate unit

• Yes, we receive a McKinney subgrant through a consortium

• Yes, we receive support and/or services for the EHCY Program through an intermediate unit or consortium

• No

• Don’t know

9.) Has your district applied for a McKinney-Vento subgrant in the last three years (2008-2011)?

• Yes (Skip question 10.)

• No

• Don’t know (Skip question 10.)

10.) Why did your district not apply for a McKinney-Vento subgrant in the last three years (2008-2011)? (Select all that apply.)

• The district has few homeless children and youth

• The district already addresses the needs of homeless children and youth

• The money wasn’t worth the added work of applying for and managing the grant

• The district didn’t think there was much chance of getting the grant

• Other (Please specify.)

• Don’t know

Collecting and Using Data

(NOTE: All the questions in this survey refer to the 2010-2011 school year (SY), unless otherwise specified.)

We are interested in what, if any, types of data your district collects specifically on homeless children and youth.

11.) Which types of data on homeless children and youth do you or your district collect? If unsure whether you collect a specific type of data, leave blank. (Select all that apply.)

Type of data on homeless children and youth	Type of data you collect (Select all that apply.)
Number enrolled in schools within the district
Number enrolled in public schools, by subgroups (e.g., ethnicity, special education, gender)
Types of educational support services provided to homeless children and youth
Types of barriers homeless children and youth face in a district
Number who took the state language arts assessment
Number, by grade level, who scored at or above proficient on the state language arts assessment
Number who took the state math assessment
Number, by grade level, who scored at or above proficient on the state math assessment
Attendance rates
Graduation and/or dropout rates
Mobility rates
Number of homeless preschool-aged children

12.) Are the data you collect on homeless children and youth linked with individual student outcome data, such as scores on state assessments and school attendance, through the use of a unique student identifier (i.e., ID number for each student in the district or state data system)?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

13.) In what ways do you or others at the district or school level use the data collected on homeless children and youth? (Select all that apply.)

• Making decisions about specific educational services delivered to this population

• Reporting to the State Education Agency (SEA)

• Reporting to the U.S Department of Education

• Helping the district conduct self-assessments aimed at program improvement

• Designing technical assistance to help schools meet the requirements of McKinney-Vento

• Monitoring school compliance with McKinney-Vento

• Helping schools conduct self-assessments aimed at program improvement

• Applying for a McKinney-Vento subgrant

• Communicating with parents

• Communicating with elected officials

• Communicating with community members (other than parents and elected officials)

• Assessing or raising community awareness

• Raising funds

• Other (Please specify.)

Barriers to School Enrollment and Success for Homeless Children and Youth

(NOTE: All the questions in this survey refer to the 2010-2011 SY, unless otherwise specified.)

We are interested in knowing your insights into the significant barriers homeless children and youth face in their efforts to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school in your district. A significant barrier is one that takes substantial time to resolve and/or frequently comes up as a barrier in multiple schools.

14.) Consider the current barriers to school enrollment for homeless children and youth in your district. Rank up to three of the following so that "1" is the most significant barrier, "2" is the second most significant barrier, and "3" is the third most significant barrier.

Possible barriers to school enrollment	Rank up to THREE of the most significant barriers
Residency requirements for school enrollment
Immunization requirements for school enrollment
Delays in obtaining immunization records
Delays in obtaining school records
Transportation to and from school
Guardianship requirements for school enrollment
Family preoccupied with survival needs
Family/student resistance (Please explain.)
Other (Please specify.)

15.) Consider the current significant barriers to school attendance for homeless children and youth in your district. Rank up to three of the following so that "1" is the most significant barrier, "2" is the second most significant barrier, and "3" is the third most significant barrier.

Possible barriers to school attendance	Rank up to THREE of the most significant barriers
Family or student preoccupied with survival needs
Lack of transportation to and from school
Lack of adequate clothing and school supplies
Inability to complete school assignments due to the lack of an appropriate (e.g., quiet) study area
Poor health/inadequate medical care
Ostracized/stigmatized at school for being homeless
Other (Please specify.)

16.) Consider the current barriers to school success for homeless children and youth in your district. Rank up to three of the following so that "1" is the most significant barrier, "2" is the second most significant barrier, and "3" is the third most significant barrier.

Possible barriers to school success	Rank up to THREE of the most significant barriers
Poor health/inadequate medical care resulting in poor school attendance
Frequent mobility from school to school
Lack of continuity in the classroom; frequent regrouping and rearranging of students within classrooms
Lack of awareness and sensitivity among school administrators and teachers to the specific educational needs of homeless children and youth
Inappropriate assessment, screening, and placement in school/lack of access to educational services for which homeless children and youth may be eligible (e.g., Title I, special education, gifted and talented programs)
Behavior problems
Lack of adequate school supplies
Inability to complete school assignments due to the lack of an appropriate (e.g., quiet) study area
Inability to receive or accumulate credit
Other (Please specify.)

Transportation to School

17.) Consider the barriers to the transportation of homeless children and youth to and from school. Among the following, which are significant barriers in your district to the transportation of homeless children and youth? (Select all that apply)

• Obtaining sufficient funding

• Coordinating transportation within the district

• Coordinating transportation with other districts

• Lack of parents’ and guardians’ awareness of transportation options

• Lack of clarity of district’s transportation policy

• Untimely delays in arranging transportation

• Distance and time for transportation of homeless children and youth

• Other (Please specify.)

• There are no transportation barriers

18.) What is the source of funding for transportation to school for homeless children and youth in your district? (Select all that apply.)

• District (i.e., from the general operating budget of your school district, or from a consortium of districts)

• State Education Agency (SEA)

• Title I under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (as reauthorized under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002)

• U.S. Department of Education program funds other than McKinney-Vento and Title I

• U.S. Housing and Urban Development program funds

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program funds

• Other federal program funds (Please specify.)

• Grants from non-profit foundations and community-based organizations

• In-kind services from community-based organizations

• Other (Please specify)

• There is no separate funding for transportation for homeless children

• Don’t know

Services Provided to Address the Needs of Homeless Children and Youth

(NOTE: All the questions in this survey refer to the 2010-2011 SY, unless otherwise specified.)

19A.) Which of the following services does your district provide to support the education of homeless children and youth? (Select all that apply.)

19B.) [For subgrantee districts only] Among the following, on which does your district spend the most McKinney-Vento funds. Rank up to three of the following services so that "1" is the service on which the most funds are spent, "2" is the service on which the second most funds are spent, and "3" is the service on which the third most funds are spent.

Services provided:	A) Services district provides (Select all that apply.)	B) Rank up to THREE services on which your district spends the most McKinney-Vento funds
Tutoring or supplemental instruction
Expedited evaluations of the strengths and needs of homeless children and youth
District staff training and awareness building about the needs of homeless children and youth
School staff training and awareness building about the needs of homeless children and youth
Referrals for medical, dental, and other health services
Defraying the cost of transportation for homeless children and youth that is not fully funded by federal, state, or local funds
Early childhood programs for homeless preschool-aged children
Services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youth in regular school programs
Obtaining or transferring records necessary for student enrollment in school
Parent education related to rights and resources for homeless children and youth
Coordination between schools and agencies that provide services to homeless children and youth
Counseling for homeless children and youth
Addressing needs of homeless children and youth related to domestic violence
School supplies
Provision for homeless children and youth before and after-school mentoring and summer programs
Emergency assistance related to school attendance
Other (Please specify.)

Efforts to Raise Awareness

(NOTE: All the questions in this survey refer to the 2010-2011 SY, unless otherwise specified.)

20.) How often, if at all, have you or your district conducted awareness-raising activities (trainings, presentations, meetings) for the following program staffs, agencies or organizations regarding the needs of homeless children and youth and/or the statutory requirements of McKinney-Vento and Title I legislation relative to the education of homeless children and youth? (Select one for each row.)

Conducted awareness-raising activities for:	Never	Every few years	Once a year	Several times a year	About once a month or more
Title I
Other offices within your district (e.g., special education, assessment, etc.)
Schools
District school board
Other local government agencies
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program staff

Homeless shelters

HUD-funded staffs
Head Start program staff
Other (Please specify.)

21.) How often, if at all, have you or your district disseminated materials (legislation and policy guidelines, information briefs, posters, data, research) to the following programs or organizations regarding the needs of homeless children and youth and/or the statutory requirements of McKinney-Vento and Title I legislation relative to the education of homeless children and youth? (Select one for each row.)

Disseminated materials to:	Never	Every few years	Once a year	Several times a year	About once a month or more
Title I
Other offices within your district (e.g., special education, assessment, etc.)
Schools
District school board
Other local government agencies
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program staff
Homeless shelters
HUD-funded staffs
Head Start program staff
Other (Please specify.)

22.) Have you used materials provided by the state for raising awareness?

Yes

No

23.) Have you used materials provided by the National Center for Homeless Education for raising awareness?

Yes

No

Coordination and Collaboration of Efforts

(All the questions in this survey refer to the 2010-2011 SY, unless otherwise specified.)

24.) Consider the program, agencies, and organizations with which you spend the most time collaborating and coordinating on issues related to serving the educational needs of homeless children and youth. Among the following, please select up to three with which you spent the most time collaborating and coordinating. (Select up to three responses only.)

• Title I

• Offices within your school district other than Title I (e.g., transportation, special education, accountability and assessment, etc.)

• Schools

• Local Housing Authority

• Child and Family Services (or other local agency that serves the needs of children and families)

• Local Health Department

• Other local government agencies

• State Education Agency (SEA)

• Other state government agencies

• Social service organizations

• Homeless advocacy organizations

• Local businesses

• Local School Board

• Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs

• Homeless shelters

• HUD-funded programs

• Head Start programs

• Other (Please specify.)

25.) Consider your efforts to coordinate and collaborate with other programs, agencies, or organizations. Among the following, which are the three approaches to collaboration that most improved services to homeless children and youth in your state? Rank up to three of the following approaches so that "1" is the most important approach, "2" is the second most important approach, and "3" is the third most important approach.

Approaches to collaboration	Rank up to THREE Approaches that Most Improved Services
Participating in an interagency task force or committee on homelessness
Sharing data on the homeless population with other programs agencies, or organizations
Reviewing with other programs agencies, or organizations district policies or regulations that affect homeless populations
Sharing with other programs, agencies, or organizations the costs of transporting homeless children and youth to and from school
Determining with other programs agencies, or organizations shelter placements for homeless families with school-age children
Identifying with other programs, agencies, or organizations gaps in services to homeless children and youth
Identifying with other programs, agencies, or organizations barriers that impede access to school for homeless children and youth
Building programmatic linkages among various programs, agencies, or organizations working in the service of homeless children and youth
Conducting joint trainings
Other (Please specify.)

26.) Consider your efforts to facilitate coordination and collaboration with Title I services. Which, if any, of the following steps have you taken to facilitate coordination with Title I? (Select all that apply.)

• Developed systems to facilitate cross-program collaborations on local plans for both McKinney-Vento and Title I staff

• Provided Title I and McKinney-Vento staff with cross-program trainings and materials

• Collected and shared data with Title I and McKinney-Vento staff on the needs of homeless and other low-income students

• Provided Title I and McKinney-Vento staff with information on effective programs to address the needs of homeless children and youth

• Involved homeless education personnel in the creation of schoolwide Title I programs, targeted assistance programs, and plans for school improvement

• Located Title I and homeless education program offices in close proximity to facilitate cross-program communication

• Participated in the Title I Committee of Practitioners

• Coordinated with Title I staff to determine the amount of and use of Title I homeless set-aside funds

• Included homeless parents in Title I parent involvement policies and created opportunities for homeless parents to be involved in Title I programs

• Other (Please specify.)

State Technical Assistance to Districts

(All the questions in this survey refer to the 2010-2011 SY, unless otherwise specified.)

27A.) On which topics, if any, did you need state assistance to help you meet the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act? (Select all that apply.)

27B.) On which topics, if any, did you receive technical assistance (i.e., one-on-one assistance, training, information) from the state? (Select all that apply.)

27C.) If so, how useful was that assistance from the state? (Select only one for each row.)

Topics for assistance from the state	A) Did you need assistance? (Select all that apply.)	B) Did you receive state assistance? (Select all that apply.)	C) If received, how useful was the state assistance? (Select only one for each row marked in column B.)
			Very Useful	Moderately Useful	Minimally Useful	Not Useful at All
Understanding the McKinney-Vento law and its requirements
Understanding the legal responsibilities of the liaison for homelessness issues
Informing district personnel about the McKinney-Vento law and its requirements
Informing school personnel about the McKinney-Vento law and its requirements
Informing parents and students about the McKinney-Vento law and their rights under the law
Identifying homeless students
Collecting, using, and reporting data about homeless students
Addressing barriers related to school enrollment and school placement (e.g., residency requirements, immunization requirements, etc.)
Addressing barriers related to school attendance (e.g., poor health, lack of adequate clothing and school supplies, etc.)
Addressing barriers related to school success (e.g., frequent mobility, lack of appropriate study area for homework, etc.)
Addressing barriers related to transportation within the district
Addressing barriers related to transportation across district boundaries
Coordinating with Title I programs (e.g., cross-program trainings and materials for Title I and McKinney-Vento personnel, etc.)
Developing additional learning opportunities delivered as part of the school day to homeless children and youth
Coordinating with external education service providers (e.g., after-school providers, supplemental tutoring services)
Accessing social services to support homeless students
Enhancing involvement opportunities for parents of homeless children and youth
Other (Please specify.)

28.) Can you provide any examples of how state assistance has changed district policies or affected the way your district provides services, uses data, collaborates with other agencies or organizations, etc. regarding homeless children and youth? If so, please respond in the space provided. Be as specific as possible.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

29.) Is there anything you would like to add that you think we should know or would help explain your responses to any of the survey questions?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for completing this survey and for helping to improve
the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program!

Draft May 27, 2011 20