Informational Letter No. 55

 

Policy Code: JLG

 

 

TO:                  Superintendents of Schools

 

FROM:             Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner

 

DATE:             March 17, 2003

 

RE:                  Designation of Local Educational Agency Homeless Liaison

 

            In August you received Informational Letter No. 8 requesting that local educational agencies designate a local liaison for homeless children and youth according to Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.)  The Department has received the names of the designated person for several school districts that were able to send their liaisons to one of the September trainings in Presque Isle, Augusta, or Portland.

 

            A second round of trainings is now being offered for those who were not able to attend the September sessions. Participants will receive training pertaining to:

 

• Local implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act;
• Identification of homeless youth and children in their school district;
• Conducting sessions to raise the awareness of and sensitivity to homeless issues with staff and students; and
• Ensuring the enrollment and educational participation of homeless children and unaccompanied youth.

 

Regional trainings will be offered in April and May. Training sessions are six hours in length.

 

Please complete the attached information form. It is important that the Department has directory information on all liaisons to ensure that updated homeless information is communicated to all systems. Please send the form to: Ms. Shelley Reed, Homeless Education Coordinator, Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0023

 

Thank you.