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 information 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 McKinney-Vento subgrant (or as a member of an intermediate educational agency or consortium receiving the grant), your participation in the survey is required under ESEA, Sec. 9804(a) (4). The findings will provide useful information on the program to the United States Department of Education, congress, and practitioners.

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 30 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, 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 responsibilities for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program [the “district liaison” is the person responsible for ensuring EHCY requirements are carried out in your district]?

_______hours

3.) How long have you been the district liaison for the EHCY program?

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

4) 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.)

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

• Yes (Number ______)

• No

• Don’t know

6.) 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 funds

• 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

7.) Does your district currently receive a McKinney-Vento subgrant and/or support 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 or consortium

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

• No, we do not receive either

• Don’t know

Collecting and Using Data

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

We are interested in whether your district collects certain data on homeless children and youth.

8.) Which data on homeless children and youth do you or your district collect? If unsure whether you collect a particular data element, leave blank. (Select all that apply.)

Data on homeless children and youth	Data elements you collect (Select all that apply.)
Attendance rates
Graduation and/or dropout rates
Mobility rates
Number of homeless preschool-aged children

9.) 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)? (Select one.)

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

10.) 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 school year, unless otherwise specified.)

We are interested in 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.

11.) Consider the current significant 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.)

12.) 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.)

13.) Consider the current significant 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 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.)

Services Provided to Address the Needs of Homeless Children and Youth

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

14A.) Which of the following services does your district provide to support the education of homeless children and youth? (Select all that apply.)

14B.) 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 school year, unless otherwise specified.)

15.) How often, if at all, have you or your district conducted awareness-raising activities (trainings, presentations, meetings) 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 for the staff of the following program, agencies or organizations? (Select one for each row.)

Conducted awareness-raising activities for staff of:	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)

Homeless shelters

HUD-funded programs
Head Start
Other (Please specify.)

16.) How often, if at all, have you or your district disseminated materials (legislation and policy guidelines, information briefs, posters, data, research) 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 to the staff of the following programs or organizations? (Select one for each row.)

Disseminated materials to the staff of:	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)
Homeless shelters
HUD-funded programs
Head Start
Other (Please specify.)

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

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

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

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

Coordination and Collaboration of Efforts

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

19.) Consider the programs, 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.)

20.) 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 with other programs, agencies, or organizations:	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
Reviewing district policies or regulations that affect homeless populations
Sharing the costs of transporting homeless children and youth to and from school
Determining shelter placements for homeless families with school-age children
Identifying gaps in services to homeless children and youth
Identifying 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.)

21.) 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 EHCY and Title I staff

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

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

• Provided Title I and EHCY 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 school year, unless otherwise specified.)

22A.) 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.)

22B.) 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.)

22C.) 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 requirements of the McKinney-Vento law
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 EHCY 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.)

23.) 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 programs, agencies or organizations, etc. regarding homeless children and youth? If so, please respond in the space provided. Be as specific as possible.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

24.) 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 15