6 Things to Know About Privacy, FERPA, and Homelessness

The educational success of students experiencing homelessness requires collaboration. Efforts to collaborate, however, must be sensitive both to students’ privacy rights—rights protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)—and to assuring that sharing information about students experiencing homelessness does not create a barrier to their identification, enrollment, or retention in school. This issue brief (and a more concise two-pager) explain what educational information pertaining to homeless students can be shared, with whom, and under what circumstances, consistent with FERPA and the McKinney-Vento Act. The full-length document also provides best practice tips collected from school districts across the country.

Housing Support for Homeless and Foster Youth in Higher Education: Implementing AB 1228

Upcoming Webinars

2020 Census and Homelessness
\\ Tuesday, February 4, 2020, 3:30 – 4:30PM ET
\\ No registration is required, this is a first-come, first-served webinar: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/699255437

Truancy v. Chronic Absenteeism: Supporting the Attendance of Students Experiencing Homelessness
\\ Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 1:00 – 2:15PM ET \\ Register Now

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey as an Advocacy Tool
\\ Wednesday, February 19, 2020, 1:00 – 2:15PM ET \\ Register Now

Where is Team SHC? February Happenings

February 6-7. Jillian presents a session on Learning from Liaisons: Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness with Jeanne Awrey and Shahera Hyatt at the California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance (CHEBNA) 2020 Summit: Advancing Student Success in Costa Mesa, CA.

February 11. Patricia works on state policy with the New Mexico Education for Homeless Children and Youth State Advisory Committee in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

February 20. Patricia and two SchoolHouse Connection Young Leaders lead a convening for charter schools and public school districts in Bexar County TX, co-sponsored by SchoolHouse Connection, Education Service Center Region 20, and the Texas Charter Schools Association.

February 25. Patricia and two SchoolHouse Connection Young Leaders lead a convening for charter schools in Washington DC, co-sponsored by SchoolHouse Connection and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

February 26-28. Barbara provides an update on SHC activities at the 2020 Education for Homeless Children and Youth State Coordinators Annual Conference in Crystal City, VA.