Federal and State Law and Displaced Students

The federal McKinney-Vento Act classifies students displaced by natural disasters as homeless. Under McKinney-Vento, homeless students are enrolled immediately and subsequent efforts are made to obtain birth records, required immunizations and health examination documentation, and scholastic records.

Records created for displaced students should be marked "homeless" rather than "out-of-state" to ensure that these students are counted in average daily membership.

Homeless students are not charged tuition under Virginia law. School divisions are encouraged to cooperate to create classroom capacity needed to accommodate students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Immunizations

School divisions should allow a minimum of 30 days for families of displaced students and local health departments to complete the physical examinations and immunizations required by state law for school enrollment.

Please use the Emergency Enrollment Form For Victims of Hurricane Katrina to document the students who have received this extension (word doc).

Placement and Student Records

Schools should use their best judgment when determining grade placement for these students, who do not have scholastic records and may not be able to produce them. Louisiana and Mississippi are cooperating with states receiving displaced students. Information on obtaining student records is available from these Web sites:

Louisiana Department of Education

Mississippi Department of Education- Hurricane Disaster Page

Project HOPE Homeless Education Project

Project HOPE, the Virginia Education Program for Homeless Children and Youth, is a federally-funded grant authorized by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. Project HOPE ensures the enrollment, attendance, and the success of homeless children and youth in school through public awareness efforts across the commonwealth and subgrants to local school divisions. Local Education Agencies (LEA) develop customized programs to meet the needs of homeless children and youth in their area.

School divisions are encouraged to work with their Project HOPE liaisons for technical assistance. Division liaisons in need of assistance should contact Project HOPE at (877) 455-3412.

Grants for Impacted Schools, Teachers and School Employees

The National Education Association has established a toll-free hotline number -- 1-866-247-2239 -- for public schools, teachers, and school employees impacted by Hurricane Katrina to apply for grants.

Public schools that have enrolled students displaced by the storm can apply for grants to help purchase school supplies, textbooks and other materials needed to accommodate increased enrollment, as well as to assist displaced children with personal needs such as clothes.

Teachers and other school employees personally impacted by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to apply for grants to meet various needs including housing, food, clothing and other personal needs.

Additional information is available at http://www.nea.org/katrina.

Resources:

	McKinney-Vento Act: Non-regulatory Guidance from the U. S. Department of Education
	Project HOPE - Virginia Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program Katrina Resources
	From the U.S Department of Health and Human Services:
		After a Hurricane: Key Facts About Infectious Disease from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
		Interim Immunization Recommendations for Individuals Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
		After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers
	Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters from the National Institute of Mental Health
	Hurricane Help for Schools - U. S. Department of Education
	Issues Surrounding School-Age Evacuees Attending New Schools - Centers for Disease Control

Displaced Teachers

The Virginia Department of Education is providing assistance in the employment of teachers and other instructional school personnel who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. A one-year provisional license will be issued to displaced teachers and other instructional school personnel for the 2005-06 school year who have been offered employment by a Virginia school division.

The Special Application for Teachers and School Personnel Displaced by Hurricane Katrina must be completed by the applicant and division superintendent or designee. No fee is required for the license. Displaced educators must indicate which state department of education ( Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana) VDOE’s Office of Professional Licensure should contact to obtain teaching credentials. The displaced educator’s signature at the bottom of the application authorizes the Office of Professional Licensure to contact the displaced educator's home state to obtain credentials. Once the credentials have been received and reviewed, VDOE will issue a Virginia license to replace the one-year provisional license.

Please send the Special Application for Teachers and School Personnel Displaced by Hurricane Katrina to Dr. James Lanham, Senior Licensure Specialist, Virginia Department of Education, Division of Teacher Education and Licensure, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120.

Questions may be addressed to Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent for teacher education and licensure, (Thomas.Elliott@doe.virginia.gov); Patty Pitts, director of licensure, (Patty.Pitts@doe.virginia.gov); or Dr. Lanham (James.Lanham@doe.virginia.gov); at (804) 371-2522.

Grants Available for Impacted Teachers and School Employees

The National Education Association has established a toll-free hotline number -- 1-866-247-2239 -- for teachers, and school employees impacted by Hurricane Katrina to apply for grants.

Teachers and other school employees personally impacted by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to apply for grants to meet various needs including housing, food, clothing and other personal needs.

Additional information is available at http://www.nea.org/katrina.