Informational Letter #53, Announcing Local Educational Agency Homeless Liaison Training Dates

INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO.53

POLICY CODE: JLG

TO: Superintendents of Schools

FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner

DATE: October 27, 2004

RE: Announcing Local Educational Agency Homeless Liaison Training Dates

Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C 11431 et seq.), amended and reauthorized as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, stipulates “local educational agencies will designate an appropriate staff person, who may also be a coordinator for other Federal programs, as a local education agency liaison for homeless children and youths.” We will be holding three different trainings throughout the state for homeless liaisons.

Portland The Eastland Park Hotel 9:00-3:00 November 16 th, 2004

Bangor The Holiday Inn, Odlin Road 9:00-3:00 November 19 th, 2004

Lewiston Ramada Inn and Conference Center 9:00-3:00 December 14 th, 2004

The morning session 9:00-12:00 will be for new homeless liaisons. 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 awareness of and sensitivity to homeless issues with staff and students; and
Ensuring the enrollment and educational participation of homeless children and unaccompanied youth.

An afternoon session will be held from 1:00-3:00 for everyone including those who have already been previously trained. In this session we would like to open up the floor for discussion about different experiences and problems that homeless liaisons might have faced during their work as a liaison. This year we are also trying to establish an advisory board that will bring together more resources and help for not only the liaisons but for the youth as well.

Please complete the form below with the information requested and return it by November 10 th, 2004 to:

Ms. Kathryn Danylik, Americorps VISTA, Homeless Education Assistance, Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0023 Or Email kathryn.danylik@maine.gov

School Administrative Unit___________________________________________

Number of people attending___________________________________________

Session attending: Bangor ( ) Lewiston ( ) Portland ( )

Thank you for completing this information. It will help us to plan for accurate materials and lunch counts.