Illinois Homeless

Tool Search: Homeless

The Homeless tab records basic homeless information as well as district-defined fields. The list of homeless records is sorted by Start Date.

Illinois has defined unique Homeless Nighttime Residence Statuses, Unaccompanied Youth Status Codes, McKinney-Vento Services, and Barriers to Education. Further information on these fields is described below. For information on all other fields, please see the Homeless page.

Homeless status can be assigned to a student at any point of the enrollment period. If a student is determined Homeless at any point in the school year, the student will report as Homeless for the entire enrollment period. The amount of time the student is deemed homeless is not considered.

Many Illinois reporting extracts include a Homeless Indicator field. These following extracts determine student homelessness based on a Homeless record that is active at any point during the reporting Calendar year:

Homeless Detail Fields

Screenshot of required and optional fields found in the Homeless Detail editor.Homeless Detail Editor

Homeless Detail Editor

Primary Nighttime Residence

In Illinois, a homeless student is defined as a student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Click here to expand...
CodeDescriptionDefinition
01ShelteredIdentifies a student who is living in emergency/transitional shelters, abandoned in hospitals, or awaiting foster care placement
02Doubled-up
Identifies a student who is (doubled up) or sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons
03Unsheltered
Identifies a student who is living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, public spaces, bus or train stations, campgrounds, temporary trailers including FEMA trailers, or substandardized housing
04Hotel/Motels
Identifies a student who is living in a hotel or motel
05Natural Disaster
Identifies a student who is displaced due to a natural disaster.
99Erroneous
Homeless record created in error

Database Location:

Homeless.primaryNightTimeResidence

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > Homeless > primaryNightTimeResidence

Reports:

ISBE Homeless Extract

Unaccompanied Youth Status Code

Identifies a student who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and who fits the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless. Example: A child not in physical custody of a parent or guardian, sharing the housing of other persons, and is living in a situation that is not fixed, regular, and adequate night time residence, would be identified as a homeless unaccompanied youth.
Click here to expand...

Database Location:

Homeless.unaccompaniedYouth

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > Homeless > unaccompaniedYouth

Reports:

ISBE Homeless Extract

McKinney-Vento Services

This field indicates whether the homeless student is being served by a McKinney-Vento program. Users are able to make multiple selections.

Click here to expand...
DescriptionDefinition
Tutoring and Other Instructional Support
Student is receiving tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other educational services that help homeless children and youth reach the same challenging State content and State student performance standards to which all children are held. As clearly specified in the ESEA, as reauthorized by the NCLB Act, all academic enrichment programs for disadvantaged students, including programs for homeless students, must be aligned with State standards and curricula.
Expedited Evaluations
Eligible student is evaluated to measure their strengths and needs. These evaluations should be done promptly in order to avoid a gap in the provision of necessary services to those children and youth. Evaluations may also determine a homeless child or youth's eligibility for other programs and services, including educational programs for gifted and talented students, special education and related services for children with disabilities, English language acquisition, vocational education, school lunch, before-and-after school programs, and appropriate programs or services under ESEA.
Staff Professionals Development and Awareness
Staff is participating in programs and other activities designed to raise awareness among educators and pupil services personnel of the rights of homeless children and youth as a result of their homelessness.
Referrals for Medical, Dental, and other Health Services
Student was found eligible and was given a referral to medical, dental, mental, and/or other health services
Early Childhood Program
Districts can use their McKinney-Vento subgrants or Title 1 set asides to provide developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs for homeless children of preschool age if such programs are not provided through other Federal, State, or local funds.
Assistance with Participation in School Program
Student is being provided services and assistance to attract, engage or retain homeless children and unaccompanied youth in public school programs and services that are available to other students in their district.
Before-School, After-School, Mentoring, Summer Program
Student is participating in before-and after-school programs, mentoring, and summer programs for homeless children and youth. Qualified personnel may provide homework assistance, tutoring, and supervision of there educational instruction in carrying out these activities.
Obtaining or Transferring Records Necessary for Enrollment
School of origin (Home School) is paying student's fees and costs associated with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records necessary for the continued enrollment of a student in school. The records may include birth certificates, guardianship records, immunization records, academic records, and evaluations of students needed to determine eligibility for other programs and services.
Parent Education Related to Rights and Resources for Children
Student's Parents or Guardian are being offered or provided education and training programs regarding the rights their children have as homeless individuals and educational and other resources available to their children.
Coordination between Schools and Agencies
Student is participating in programs coordinated with local service agencies and other service providers including programs under the "Runaway and Homeless Youth Act".
Counseling
Student is participating in pupil services programs providing violence prevention counseling and referrals to such counseling.
Addressing Needs Related to Domestic Violence
Student is participating in programs addressing the particular needs of eligible students that may arise from domestic violence.
Clothing to Meet a School Requirement
Student is being provided basic needs such as school uniforms, school supplies, and health-related needs
School Supplies
Eligible student is being provided school supplies at shelters, temporary housing facilities, and other locations as appropriate.
Referral to Other Programs and Services
Outside of school, liaisons are required to provide referrals for health, mental health, dental, and other appropriate services in the community. Other "appropriate" services may include housing, shelter, job training, public assistance, food and nutrition, and legal assistance. Student is receiving one or more of these "Other" Programs or services.
Emergency Assistance Related to School Attendance
Eligible students are being provided extraordinary or emergency services as necessary to enroll and retain such children and youth in school.
Other (Services and Activities Provided by the McKinney-Vento Subgrant Program
LEA is providing subgrant services for the student through programs on school grounds or at other facilities. If services are provided on school grounds, the schools may use McKinney-Vento funds to provide the same services to other children and youth who are determined by the LEA to be at risk of failing in, or dropping out of school.

Database Location:

Homeless.servicesReceived

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > Homeless > servicesReceived

Reports:

ISBE Homeless Extract

Barriers to Education

This field allows users to indicate the barriers, if any, to the education of the student. Users are able to make multiple selections.

Click here to expand...
DescriptionDefinition
Eligible for Homeless ServiceEnrichment programs and other supplemental services are school activities. Furthermore, liaisons are required to ensure that children and youth in homeless situations have a full and fair opportunity to succeed in school. Enrichment programs clearly support that requirement. The extent that individual students experiencing homelessness can benefit from such programs, the student must be provided access to these programs.
School Selection
The school district shall to the extent feasible, keep a homeless child or youth in the School of Origin *, except when doing so is
contrary to the wishes of the child's/youth's parent/guardian.
* School of Origin is defined as the school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was
 last enrolled.
Transportation
Homeless students are entitled to the same rights to transportation as other students in the district. If the parent or guardian chooses the school of origin and it is in another district, the districts must agree on how to divide responsibility and cost of providing transportation and share equally.
School Records
Enroll Homeless student immediately (even without records). Ask Name/City of last school attended; Contact that school to have records sent. Arrange for student to take placement test if records are not available.
Immunization/Medical Records
If a student cannot produce immunization or medical records contact the previous school in order to obtain health record.
Other Barriers
Fees associated with extra-curricular activities such as club dues and/or sports uniforms for the student were eliminated. Student discipline and expulsion rules apply to students in homeless situations in the same way they apply to housed students. Schools must be careful not to discipline or penalize students for behavior related to homelessness. Any child identified as homeless by a liaison or shelter director is automatically eligible for free school meals.

Database Location:

Homeless.educationalBarriers

Ad Hoc Inquiries:

Student > Learner > Homeless > educationalBarriers

Reports:

ISBE Homeless Extract