District outlines Families in Transition (McKinney-Vento) supports; 48 students identified so far this year
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Summary
District student services staff presented the Families in Transition program (the district—s McKinney-Vento implementation) and said 48 students had been identified so far this year, with three to four unaccompanied youth.
Lynette Seminar, the district—s student services program support and families-in-transition liaison, and Mikaela Lee, a Lincoln High School social worker, presented the Manitowoc School District—s Families in Transition program (the district—s implementation of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) and described how staff identify and support students experiencing housing instability.
Seminar said the McKinney-Vento definition covers students who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. That includes children living in shelters, doubled-up with other households because of economic hardship, in motels or campgrounds not meant for long-term habitation, in abandoned buildings or cars, and unaccompanied youth who are living without a parent or guardian. The district identifies families through an enrollment residency screener, annual updates, staff referrals, and community partners such as shelters and county social workers.
Seminar listed rights and supports for qualifying students: the option to remain in a school of origin with district-arranged transportation, immediate enrollment without waiting for proof of residence or birth certificate, free breakfast and lunch (district-wide at present), waived basic school fees for qualifying students, access to after-school programming and special education services while paperwork is arranged, and confidential handling of eligibility information. She said staff only disclose eligibility to those school staff with a direct educational need-to-know.
Seminar said the district—s data showed about 48 students had been identified so far this school year, and staff had identified three (possibly four) unaccompanied homeless youth; she noted identification changes continually as families gain stable housing or move. The district described community partnerships that support families, including WGNR—s Brighter Dreams bed donations, Grow It Forward weekend food bags, donations administered via Peter—s Pantry, Kwik Trip grocery vouchers, laundry assistance coordinated with local churches, building-level caring closets with hygiene and clothing, and a Manti Cares Network email list for one-off needs.
When asked about academic supports, staff confirmed qualifying students can access district reading and math supports and other multi-tiered intervention systems. Staff said they are proactively visiting buildings during National Homelessness Awareness Month to share information with teachers and counselors and to encourage sensitive, confidential follow-up when students disclose housing instability.
