Report 2019-104 All Recommendation Responses

Report 2019-104: Youth Experiencing Homelessness: California's Education System for K-12 Inadequately Identifies and Supports These Youth (Release Date: November 2019)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that LEAs effectively identify and serve youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require LEAs to follow best practices to distribute to all families and youth, at least annually, a housing questionnaire with content that defines homelessness in a manner consistent with the McKinney-Vento Act.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 27 (Chapter 394, Statutes of 2021), in part, requires LEAs to ensure that each school within the LEA identifies all homeless children and unaccompanied youths enrolled at the school, administers a housing questionnaire for purposes of identifying homeless children and unaccompanied youths, and annually provides the housing questionnaire to all parents or guardians of pupils and unaccompanied youths.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

AB 1937 (L. Rivas, 2020) would have required LEAs to create a housing questionnaire that includes an explanation of the rights and protections a pupil has as a homeless child or an unaccompanied youth and annually provide the housing questionnaire to all parents or guardians of pupils and unaccompanied youths of the LEA. This bill failed passage due to adjournment of the 2019-20 Regular Legislative Session.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

AB 1937 (L. Rivas) would require LEAs to ensure that each school within the LEA identifies all homeless children and youths and unaccompanied youths enrolled at the school, create a housing questionnaire for purposes of identifying homeless children and youths and unaccompanied youths, and annually provide the housing questionnaire to all parents or guardians of pupils and unaccompanied youths of the LEA.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that LEAs effectively identify and serve youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require LEAs to follow best practices to request all families or youth to complete and return the housing questionnaire. For example, an LEA could combine this questionnaire with the emergency contact forms, which the families or youth are strongly encouraged to complete and return each year.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 27 (Chapter 394, Statutes of 2021) requires an LEA, commencing no later than the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, to ensure that the housing questionnaire is based on best practices developed by Education.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

AB 1937 would require LEAs to ensure that each school within the LEA identifies all homeless children and youths and unaccompanied youths enrolled at the school, create a housing questionnaire for purposes of identifying homeless children and youths and unaccompanied youths, and annually provide the housing questionnaire to all parents or guardians of pupils and unaccompanied youths of the LEA. The bill also would require LEAs to collect the completed housing questionnaires and to annually report to the California Department of Education (Education) the number of homeless children and unaccompanied youths enrolled.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that LEAs effectively identify and serve youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require LEAs to follow best practices to include in the housing questionnaire the educational rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and the purpose of the questionnaire, including that the LEA uses the requested information to determine whether youth are eligible to receive additional support and services. Specifically, the Legislature should require LEAs to inform individuals in the housing questionnaire that under federal law all children are entitled to a free public education regardless of their immigration status, and that under state law homelessness by itself is not a reason for school officials to make a report to child protective services.

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

AB 1937 would have required LEAs to create a housing questionnaire that includes an explanation of the rights and protections a pupil has as a homeless child or an unaccompanied youth. This bill failed passage due to adjournment of the 2019-20 Regular Legislative Session.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that LEAs effectively identify and serve youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require LEAs to follow best practices to ensure that all school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training on the homeless education program at least annually. The Legislature should specify that staff who provide services to these youth include enrollment staff, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, social workers and counselors, teachers, and administrators.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 408 (Quirk-Silva, 2021) would require an LEA to ensure that its certificated and classified employees, including, but not limited to, teachers, support staff, and other school staff who work with pupils, receive training at least annually relating the LEAs homeless education program policies and recognition of signs that pupils are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, homelessness. As of November 7, 2021, this bill is pending in the Assembly.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Introduced

Description of Legislative Action

AB 1937 would have required LEAs to ensure that its school personnel who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training about the homeless education program at least annually.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

AB 1937 would require LEAs to ensure that its school personnel who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training about the homeless education program at least annually.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that LEAs effectively identify and serve youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require LEAs to follow best practices to collaborate with other organizations that provide services to those experiencing homelessness to enhance identification and provision of the services available to such youth. The Legislature should specify that these collaborations must include working with organizations that provide counseling services, social welfare services, meal services, health care services, and housing services.

Description of Legislative Action

SB 400 (Chapter 400, Statutes of 2021) requires the LEA homeless liaisons to ensure that homeless children and youths are identified by school personnel through outreach and coordination activities with other entities and agencies and that homeless families and homeless children and youths receive referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health and substance abuse services, housing services, and other appropriate services.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

SB 1204 (Jones, 2020) would have required LEAs to collaborate with other organizations that provide services to homeless children and youths to enhance the identification of, and the provision of services to, those children and youths. The bill would have required these collaborations to include, but not necessarily be limited to, working with organizations that provide counseling services, social welfare services, meal services, and housing services. This bill failed passage due to adjournment of the 2019-20 Regular Legislative Session.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

SB 1204 (Jones) would require LEAs to collaborate with other organizations that provide services to homeless children and youths to enhance the identification of, and the provision of services to, those children and youths. The bill would require these collaborations to include, but not necessarily be limited to, working with organizations that provide counseling services, social welfare services, meal services, and housing services.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation #6 To: Birmingham Community Charter School

To comply with federal law and best practices, Birmingham Charter should, before academic year 2020-21, ensure that school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training as federal law requires. Further, as set forth in best practices, the LEA should provide this training at least annually, and the training should include the definition of homelessness, signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps an LEA should take once school staff has identified a youth as possibly experiencing homelessness.

1-Year Agency Response

After implementing our first school-wide training for all staff members in January of 2020 on "Youths Experiencing Homelessness" on-site with a presenter from the Los Angeles County Office of Education, we made a decision to purchase an online staff training program for the SY2020-21 from McKinney-Vento.org in order to better address the training needs of all of our staff members and also to be able to provide year-round training opportunities to current and newly hired employees. The online staff training covers the definition of homelessness, the signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness, the educational rights and protections available to homeless students and the next steps once a student has been identified as homeless. As of October 31, 2020, all 305 school employees have completed the McKinney-Vento online training.

In addition, our school's Board Policy for "Education For Youth Experiencing Homelessness" has been updated to include mandatory annual training for all school staff members regarding the definition of homelessness, the signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, the educational rights and protections available to homeless youths and the next steps a school staff member should take once a youth has been identified as possibly experiencing homelessness and once the school has determined that a youth is experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

On January 13, 2020, Birmingham Charter held a "Youths Experiencing Homelessness" training for all staff members including certificated (teachers, counselors, administrators), classified (clerks, paraprofessionals, security guards, walk-on coaches) and cafeteria staff. The training was presented by the Los Angeles County Office of Education and covered the following topics: the definition of homelessness, the signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness, the educational rights and protections available to homeless students and the next steps once a student has been identified as homeless. In addition, we have held followup meetings regarding how to provide services to our homeless population on March 12, 2020 with our academic and college counselors and on April 29, 2020 with our admissions office, main office and counseling office staff.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Although the documents that Birmingham Charter provided show that it has provided the training, and that the training covers the topics we recommended, Birmingham Charter did not provide support that it plans to provide this training at least annually.

60-Day Agency Response

A Homeless Education Coordinator from the Los Angeles County Office of Education will train all of our employees (certificated, classified and cafeteria staff) in the following areas regarding homelessness:

- The definition of homelessness

- The signs of homelessness

- The educational rights and protections available to students

experiencing homelessness

- The next steps once a student has been identified as homeless

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #7 To: Greenfield Union School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Greenfield should, before academic year 2020-21, ensure that school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training as federal law requires. Further, as set forth in best practices, the LEA should provide this training at least annually, and the training should include the definition of homelessness, signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps an LEA should take once school staff has identified a youth as possibly experiencing homelessness.

1-Year Agency Response

The Annual McKinney-Vento training was distributed to all staff. Due to COVID-19 LEA school closures, a video link was provided via zoom. Attached are the completed sign-ins for all district staff including Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation staff as of Nov. 12, 2020. An updated MOT sign-in has been uploaded. All district staff have been informed of the contact person located at each site and the Support Services Office. Staff include school social workers, counselors and/or the LEA's McKinney-Vento Liaison. In 2020-21, Greenfield hired a full-time Student Services Liaison Behavioral Specialist that will support at-risk McKinney Vento and Foster Youth students.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

Annual McKinney-Vento training was completed as of June 3, 2020. On March 17, 2020, LEA closed schools due to Covid-19, which delayed the last few scheduled trainings See Training Folder and Sign-in sheets folder as well as the Powerpoint training presentation and Preschool McKinney Vento virtual training video. All district staff have been informed of the site contact person(s), which include school social workers, school counselors and/or the LEA's McKinney-Vento Liaison.

(District McKinney-Vento Training Schedule 2019-20 and MV District PPT Presentation Training 2019-20) and Preschool MV Training Video 2019-20

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

Greenfield has developed training that includes the definition of homelessness, signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps an LEA should take once school staff have identified a youth as possibly experiencing homelessness. Although Greenfield provided evidence that it trained staff for school year 2019-20, it did not provide any evidence that it requires this training to be provided annually.

60-Day Agency Response

Not fully implemented.

Annual training has begun however, not all departments or school sites are trained. All 8 elementary schools and 1 middle school finished McKinney-Vento training prior to December 20, 2019. The District's Administrative Leadership Team, school site secretaries and clerks, MOT, Transportation and Nutrition Services Department participated in the annual training on November 25, 2019. In January, the two middle schools and the preschool staff will all be trained, followed by the remaining departments by May 31, 2020.

The LEA has initiated an aggressive plan to develop and provide McKinney-Vento training including definitions, signs of homelessness, impact of homelessness on youth, and steps the school staff takes if there is a possibility that youth are experiencing homelessness. All district staff have been informed of the site contact person(s), which include school social workers, school counselors and/or the LEA's McKinney-Vento Liaison. Included in the evidence is the district's McKinney Vento Training Schedule.

(District McKinney-Vento Training Schedule 2019-20 and MV District Presentation Training 2019-20)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #8 To: Gridley Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Gridley should, before academic year 2020-21, ensure that school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training as federal law requires. Further, as set forth in best practices, the LEA should provide this training at least annually, and the training should include the definition of homelessness, signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps an LEA should take once school staff has identified a youth as possibly experiencing homelessness.

1-Year Agency Response

In the spring of 2020, we contracted with McKinney-Vento.org, an online provider of state-specific trainings for school staff, to provide access to our district to their library of online and trackable trainings for school personnel that were targeted toward different aspects of school personnel, with separate modules for administrators, food service personnel, transportation, enrollment, counselors, teachers, coaches, etc. This resource was brought to our attention through the county School Ties office as a solution for ours needs. In the early implementation there were a number of issues with the technical implementation of this that were not fully resolved until after the start of the school year. In communication with the company's new quality assurance supervisor, these have been ironed out and Gridley Unified personnel had the trainings available and have begun completing them in late October 2020. Through the software interface, we can track who has completed which trainings and help ensure that all staff complete their training. All staff members were provided with a welcome letter, a self-registration link, and an overview of the expected completions: Minimally the core overview video of about 11-12 minutes to McKinney-Vento, the 4-10 minute video specific to their job title, and then the completion quiz (4-6 questions) to complete their certification.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

We have completed a contract with McKinney-Vento.org, a nationwide provider of McKinney-Vento trainings, to provide job-specific trainings to the various classes of employee at our district. This approach was taken to tailor the trainings to the type of expected interactions that various employee types may have over the course of a school year. At this writing, we are in process of account setup for the district administrators and prepping to train them in monitoring employee completion of trainings. Once we have access to the full suite of trainings, the Special Projects Coordinator position will ensure that all employees receive the general orientation to McKinney-Vento as indicated in the audit findings as well as their job-specific module. This training is all online, and even if schools remain closed to due COVID, this should have no impact on our ability to complete the trainings when employees return to work in August of 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

We have secured the services of an online provider of McKinney-Vento training, tailored to the needs of various staff members from teachers, to administrators, to custodial. All staff will be required as part of the back-to-school process to complete the training modules to increase their awareness of identification and service to M-V students. Key personnel such as administrators, counselors and secretaries will receive additional face to face instruction from the LEA's M-V coordinator(s) around additional aspects of their roles.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #9 To: Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Norwalk-La Mirada should, before academic year 2020-21, ensure that school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training as federal law requires. Further, as set forth in best practices, the LEA should provide this training at least annually, and the training should include the definition of homelessness, signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps an LEA should take once school staff has identified a youth as possibly experiencing homelessness.

1-Year Agency Response

The annual Norwalk La Mirada staff training was completed, as mandated, 2020. Due to COVID- 19, the training was implemented virtually through ZOOM and WebEx. To further strengthen our training efforts, we developed the McKinney-Vento Program "What You Need Know" informational series which includes the following documents: Definition of Homelessness, Signs of Homelessness, The Impact of Homelessness on Youth, and the steps that staff should take once they have identified a youth possibly experiencing homelessness. Further, the MV team has developed the "MV Program School Staff Resource Guide", which consists of individualized strategies for administrators, teachers and classified staff that work with homeless students. The guide provides tools for successful engagement with families in transition. In addition, the MV team began to promote "National Homeless Awareness Month" by publishing a homeless awareness manual with additional training modules and resources.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

Due to school closure the NLMUSD was not able to complete our annual teacher training phase that began the first week of March. However,moving forward we will conduct the teacher training via zoom and expect to complete by 9/15/20, taking into consideration that school ends on the first week of June and does not resume until the second week of August.

To date We have completed all face to face training and have also developed specialized McKinney-Vento binders for front office staff,mental health providers, school counselors and other staff.

We have also developed a district wide resource guide for all staff that come in contact with students in transitions,from school bus drivers to administrators, and continue to expand our staff awareness of our homeless population.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

We have set up dates for 19/20 series of annual training on the following

January 14th, 2020 training for all front office enrollment clerks and registrars (complete)

February 14th, 2020 counselors training all NLMUSD counselors

March 5th and March 27th all NlMUSD teachers

Superintendents directive to place the following information on all staff handbooks: definition of homelessness,signs of homelessness,the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps to take once homeless student has been identified..... (completed 1/17/2020)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to Norwalk-La Mirada demonstrating its implementation of this recommendation at its 6-month response.

Recommendation #10 To: San Bernardino City Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, San Bernardino should, before academic year 2020-21, ensure that school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training as federal law requires. Further, as set forth in best practices, the LEA should provide this training at least annually, and the training should include the definition of homelessness, signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps an LEA should take once school staff has identified a youth as possibly experiencing homelessness.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

Each school year, a training video and power point presentation is provided to each school site and applicable department with instructions on who is mandated to receive the training, how to provide evidence of participation in the training, and opportunities to provide feedback, questions and requests for additional training and support. The A.T.L.A.S. team responds to questions, feedback and follow- up requests.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

Due to school closures caused by the pandemic, SBCUSD requested an extension to June 30, 2021 to fully implement this recommendation. The A.T.L.A.S. department is creating a webinar and a plan to provide training to all school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness, as federal law requires.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

Due to COVID-19 and the school closures since March 13, 2020, practices, policies and procedures of existing systems have been modified. SBCUSD has had transition to 100% virtual interaction with students, staff and families. Therefore, SBCUSD is currently working on a webinar training that will be provided to all school site administrators and department administrators with information and instructions on implementation of the training for all staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness. We are requesting an extension to June 30, 2021, to allow for the proper training of staff to meet this recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

Despite several follow-up contacts by State Auditor staff, San Bernardino did not provide a response to this recommendation. As a result, the State Auditor staff entered a response of "Not Fully Implemented" on San Bernardino's behalf.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

We reached out to San Bernardino several times to update its response to this recommendation. However, San Bernardino failed to provide a response. We look forward to San Bernardino's one-year response to update the status of its implementation of this recommendation.

60-Day Agency Response

SBCUSD has coordinated a committee of department and program leads to create a plan that will ensure that all state and federal required trainings are provided to district staff as determined by legislation. Included in this plan is that all district staff directly serving students in homeless situations will receive mandatory training as stipulated above. Future committee meetings and collaboration with union representation will determine explicitly how and when this professional development will be offered.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #11 To: Vallejo City Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Vallejo should, before academic year 2020-21, ensure that school staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training as federal law requires. Further, as set forth in best practices, the LEA should provide this training at least annually, and the training should include the definition of homelessness, signs of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on youth, and the steps an LEA should take once school staff has identified a youth as possibly experiencing homelessness.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

The Vallejo City Unified School District completed a training, in module form, related to homelessness. This was done through Solano County Office of Education (SCOE). The title of the training was " The Unveiling of Homelessness" The training was in the form of virtual moduloes created by Dr. Kim Govi Solano County Office of Education and was presented by PowerPoint on February/2021 by Jessica Brown Student Services. The training was in 4 modules with a pre-test and Test at the end.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

The VCUSD is in progress implementing a training module to staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

Currently working with the Solano County Office of Education to develop online training modules, which will be provided and implemented at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Professional Development (PD) training provided to each elementary school principal and their office managers between the dates of September 30, 2019 to October 4, 2019. Secondary Vice Principals received PD on October 8, 2019, and secondary Principals received PD on October 15, 2019. All school Counselors, Academic Support Providers, and Registrars will receive PD on January 24, 2020. All teachers have or will have received PD through site Principals between the months of October 2019 and March 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

As Vallejo noted in its response, it is still in the process of providing training to teachers. Further, Vallejo did not provide any documentation to support that it intends to provide this training at least annually.

Recommendation #12 To: Birmingham Community Charter School

To comply with federal law and best practices, Birmingham Charter should, before academic year 2020-21, distribute information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in public places, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and food pantries frequented by families of such youth, as federal law requires. Further, to mitigate families' and youth's hesitance to disclosing their living situation the LEA should include the protections set forth in federal and state laws in the information it distributes.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2021

Veronica Perez, the Homeless Liaison, from our school visited food banks, shelters and libraries within our attendance area and posted information in English and Spanish describing the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness prior to the start of school both in August of 2020 and August of 2021. We kept a log of the organizations visited that includes the name and address of the organization and the date of the visit as evidence of our efforts.

The information describing the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness is also posted in all offices and classrooms at our school (we are a single school site independent charter high school) as of the SY2021-22. The posted information includes the rights and the protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness and has been approved by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the US Department of Education and the National Center for Homeless Education.

The rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness are also included on our website and can be directly accessed via the following link:

https://www.birminghamcharter.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=168038&type=d&pREC_ID=1785081

Finally, these rights and protections are also detailed on the Student Residency Questionnaire which must be completed annually by a parent/guardian prior to enrollment regardless of whether the student was enrolled at our school the previous year.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

A representative from our school visited food banks, shelters and libraries within our attendance area and posted a poster in English and Spanish describing the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness. We kept a log of the organizations visited that includes the name and address of the organization and the date of the visit as evidence of our efforts. The same poster in English and Spanish describing the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness is posted in all offices and classrooms at our school (we are a single school site independent charter high school). The poster includes the rights AND the protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness and has been approved by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the US Department of Education and the National Center for Homeless Education.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

The poster that Birmingham Charter distributed does not contain the protections set forth in federal and state laws. Until the poster includes this information, we will continue to report this recommendation as not fully implemented.

6-Month Agency Response

A representative from our school will visit food banks, shelters and libraries within our attendance area and post a poster in English and Spanish of the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness. We will keep a log of the organizations visited that includes the name and address of the organization and the date of the visit as evidence of our efforts. The same poster in English and Spanish outlining the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness will be posted in all classrooms and offices in our school (we are a single school site independent charter high school). We will make sure that the poster includes the rights AND the protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

A representative from our school visited food banks, churches, shelters and libraries within our attendance area and posted a poster in English and Spanish of the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness. The same poster in English and Spanish outlining the rights and protections afforded to youths experiencing homelessness has been posted in all classrooms and offices in our school (we are a single school site independent charter high school).

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

Birmingham Charter provided documentation to demonstrate that it distributed information to community partners to post in public places. However, although the information it distributed includes the rights of youth experiencing homelessness, it does not include protections set forth in federal and state laws.

Recommendation #13 To: Greenfield Union School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Greenfield should, before academic year 2020-21, distribute information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in public places, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and food pantries frequented by families of such youth, as federal law requires. Further, to mitigate families' and youth's hesitance to disclosing their living situation the LEA should include the protections set forth in federal and state laws in the information it distributes.

6-Month Agency Response

McKinney-Vento Liaison and MSWs have visited local businesses, motels, public library, medical clinics, and agencies to distribute the Enroll Now posters with McKinney-Vento pamphlets including liaison contact information. A list of local businesses and agencies will be forwarded via email. McKinney Vento Public Outreach 2019-20.

The Greenfield Union School District's McKinney Vento pamphlets were revised to inform parents and students experiencing homelessness of resources and services available to them. We will review other best practices regarding families and their protections under the law to improve the districts McKinney Vento information distributed to the public. The pamphlet update was completed by December 20, 2019. English MV Pamphlet and Spanish MV Pamphlet

The McKinney-Vento pamphlet has been updated to include the following statement:

* Your housing information is protected by law. Your information will not be shared with others without your permission.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

McKinney-Vento Liaison and MSWs have visited local businesses, motels, public library, medical clinics, and agencies to distribute the Enroll Now posters with McKinney-Vento pamphlets including liaison contact information. A list of local businesses and agencies will be forwarded via email. McKinney Vento Public Outreach 2019-20.

The Greenfield Union School District's McKinney Vento pamphlet was revised to inform parents and students experiencing homelessness of resources and services available to them. We will review other best practices regarding families and their protections under the law to improve the districts McKinney-Vento information distributed to the public. The pamphlet update was completed by December 20, 2019.

The McKinney-Vento pamphlet has been updated to include the following statement:

* Your housing information is protected by law. Your information will not be shared with others without your permission.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing Greenfield's updated McKinney-Vento pamphlet and distribution list in its 6-month response.

Recommendation #14 To: Gridley Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Gridley should, before academic year 2020-21, distribute information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in public places, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and food pantries frequented by families of such youth, as federal law requires. Further, to mitigate families' and youth's hesitance to disclosing their living situation the LEA should include the protections set forth in federal and state laws in the information it distributes.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2021

The Gridley Unified School District has revised our posters to reflect the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness. These assurances include a statement that information provided to the district from homeless families will not be shared. The posters have been distributed and posted at all district schools. The posters have also been put on bulletin boards at various location in the district, including the laundromat and the recreation department. The district will continue to seek additional locations to place the information.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

Official California state McKinney-Vento posters in English and Spanish were acquired from the state M-V Coordinator office and then adapted to include our own local information for the county and local coordinators. Similar posters were created and distributed around town at likely venues we identified in the last school year, but new ones needed to be generated due to an official change this year in the local homeless liaison position. Sites where these were posted included laundromats, RV parks, a FEMA housing project, a city park with restrooms open 24 hours, and all school sites plus the district office.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

Although the district provided support that it distributed posters to various locations, the posters it distributed do not include the protections set forth in federal and state laws. Until the posters include this information, we will continue to report this recommendation as not fully implemented.

6-Month Agency Response

Posters were completed, using the model provided by the CDE, in both English and Spanish, and posted at all school sites prior to the closure of schools in California in March 2020 due to COVID. Following health department and CDC as well as Gov. Newsom's executive orders, with the closure of so many public places, we were unable to complete distribution of the posters around town. When the shelter orders are lifted and employees can return to normal operations, we will complete and document the placement of posters in the indicated locations as noted in the audit findings.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

GUSD has acquired the CDE-approved M-V poster templates and modified them to include LEA-specific information, including contacts. Some of these have already been placed in the community at each school site, in English and Spanish. Auditors indicated to us in their recommendations in phone conversation that they considered the CDE-approved posters inadequate. We are awaiting guidance from the county office of education's M-V coordinator which has direct contact with the CDE office about whether a modified state poster will be available that fully implements the auditor's recommendation. If this is not forthcoming, GUSD Special Projects Coordinator and staff will develop its own posters before the end of the current school year and get them in place prior to the beginning of summer break.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #15 To: Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Norwalk-La Mirada should, before academic year 2020-21, distribute information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in public places, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and food pantries frequented by families of such youth, as federal law requires. Further, to mitigate families' and youth's hesitance to disclosing their living situation the LEA should include the protections set forth in federal and state laws in the information it distributes.

60-Day Agency Response

We have distribute information about the educational rights and protections of youth and families experiences homelessness in locations and agencies that serve our target population..enclosed is a list of all the surrounding food backs and the materials that have been distributed ...in addition, we are now making sure that rights and protection are also provided to all of our homeless service providers such as the city Of Norwalk Homeless Task Force, The DPSS Norwalk District Community, our Mickinney-Vento Collaborative Partners, as well all school sites and locations where students and families gravitate.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #16 To: San Bernardino City Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, San Bernardino should, before academic year 2020-21, distribute information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in public places, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and food pantries frequented by families of such youth, as federal law requires. Further, to mitigate families' and youth's hesitance to disclosing their living situation the LEA should include the protections set forth in federal and state laws in the information it distributes.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

In August of each school year, A.T.L.A.S. liaisons visit all school sites to ensure state provided posters are present and visible in front offices. Flyers with information on the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness are provided at local motels and shelters. Flyers are also provided to district offices who serve students and families daily. Flyers are also provided and available at city and district events. Information and flyers are also posted on the district website. The A.T.L.A.S. liaisons will continue to distribute flyers with information on the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness to community partners and agencies throughout the school year.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

The state-provided posters that San Bernardino explained that it used do not contain the protections available to youth experiencing homelessness. As such, it has not fully implemented this recommendation.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

In August of 2021, A.T.L.A.S. liaisons visited all school sites to ensure state provided posters were present and visible in front offices. Flyers with information on the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness were provided at local motels and shelters. Flyers were also provided to district offices who serve students and families daily. Flyers are also provided and available at city and district events. Information and flyers were also posted on the district website. Due to the continued risk of exposure to COVID, public places are limiting access in many areas. The A.T.L.A.S. liaisons will continue to distribute flyers with information on the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness to community partners and agencies throughout the school year.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

Due to COVID-19 and SBCUSD school closures since March 13, 2020 as well as the closure of many public places, including public libraries, food pantries and other public places frequented by families of students in homeless situations, implementation of this recommendation has been limited. Flyers with information on the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness were created in three languages. The process of creating the information took much longer than normal due to the current pandemic. In addition, schools are all closed to the staff and students. Public agencies and organizations were contacted to determine if they were open and asked if information could be shared and distributed. We will continue to distribute as places allow and open. Due to school closures, information will be posted on the outside of school buildings.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

Despite several follow-up contacts by State Auditor staff, San Bernardino did not provide a response to this recommendation. As a result, the State Auditor staff entered a response of "Not Fully Implemented" on San Bernardino's behalf.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

We reached out to San Bernardino several times to update its response to this recommendation. However, San Bernardino failed to provide a response. We look forward to San Bernardino's one-year response to update the status of its implementation of this recommendation.

60-Day Agency Response

A supplemental sticker will be placed on all state provided posters with information on protections for students and families set forth in federal and state laws.

Planning and preparation is currently underway. Assignment of staffing and calendaring of regular visits to school sites and community agencies is being coordinated.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #17 To: Vallejo City Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Vallejo should, before academic year 2020-21, distribute information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in public places, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and food pantries frequented by families of such youth, as federal law requires. Further, to mitigate families' and youth's hesitance to disclosing their living situation the LEA should include the protections set forth in federal and state laws in the information it distributes.

6-Month Agency Response

VCUSD has been able to distribute information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in public places throughout the city of Vallejo, including schools, shelters, public libraries, food pantries, and at organizations that work with the public.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

VCUSD has distributed information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in several public places including: All VCUSD schools, the Solano County Library in Vallejo, John F. Kennedy Library in Vallejo, Fighting Back Partnership in Vallejo, the Christian Help Center shelter, Solano County Health & Social Services office, and the Solano County Children's Behavioral Health office.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

Although Vallejo provided documentation to support that it has distributed certain information for posting in public places, the posters it provided did not include protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness. Specifically, the documentation it provided to us shows that the posters include rights of youth experiencing homelessness. However, the posters do not detail the protections available to these youth and their families.

Recommendation #18 To: Birmingham Community Charter School

To comply with federal law and best practices, Birmingham Charter should, before academic year 2020-21, publish information on its website about the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

6-Month Agency Response

Please see below for the link to the page on our website regarding "Homeless Youth and Families":

https://www.birminghamcharter.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=168038&type=d&pREC_ID=1785081

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

Please see below for the link to the page on our website regarding "Homeless Youth and Families":

https://www.birminghamcharter.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=168038&type=d&pREC_ID=1785081

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #19 To: Greenfield Union School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Greenfield should, before academic year 2020-21, publish information on its website about the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

1-Year Agency Response

LEA developed a McKinney-Vento webpage on the district website that complies with federal law and best practices January 31, 2020. The webpage was last updated as of November 2020 and will be maintained with current contact information, services, and resources as they become available.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

LEA developed a McKinney-Vento webpage on the district website that complies with federal law and best practices. The webpage was completed by January 31, 2020 and updated as needed. https://www.gfusd.net/apps/pages/McKinney-Vento

The McKinney-Vento Liaison contact information has been posted with a pdf link to the updated McKinney-Vento pamphlet in both English and Spanish are available. Also, each school site, Support Services, and the Greenfield Family Resource Center will be linked to the McKinney-Vento home page along with educational rights and protections provided to youth experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

The McKinney-Vento pamphlet on Greenfield's website does not specify the protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness.

60-Day Agency Response

LEA is in the process of developing a McKinney-Vento webpage on the district website which will comply with federal law and best practices. The McKinney-Vento Liaison contact information has been posted with a pdf link to the updated McKinney-Vento pamphlet in both English and Spanish are available. Also, each school site, Support Services, and the Greenfield Family Resource Center will be linked to the McKinney-Vento home page along with educational rights and protections provided to youth experiencing homelessness. The webpage will be completed by January 31, 2020 and updated as needed.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing Greenfield's McKinney-Vento webpage at its 6-month response.

Recommendation #20 To: Gridley Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Gridley should, before academic year 2020-21, publish information on its website about the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2021

The Gridley Unified School District has revised our posters to reflect the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness. These assurances include a statement that information provided to the district from homeless families will not be shared.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

The district added a page to the district website specifically detailing the rights of homeless students, noting the current liaison, and including links to additional resources. This page is available from the district homepage under the heading "Student Services" then clicking on the "McKinney-Vento (Homeless and Foster)" link. Resources were posted in English and Spanish on the page.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

The information on Gridley's website does not include protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness. Until the website includes this information, we will continue to report this recommendation as not fully implemented.

6-Month Agency Response

Revision of school public-facing website information about homelessness is on the punchlist of summer projects to be completed by the technology and special projects departments during summer 2020 as part of the yearly overhaul of the web presence.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

GUSD District Special Projects staff will develop and prominently post on the website a page dedicated to updated M-V educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #21 To: Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Norwalk-La Mirada should, before academic year 2020-21, publish information on its website about the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

60-Day Agency Response

In October 2019 to comply with best practices , NLM restructure their web page to make sure that McKinney-Vento program educational rights and assurances are accessible, easy to maneuver, in a language that they understand

https://www.nlmusd.org/

information include

Program objective mission and goals

population serve Services offered

Program Brochures that include educational rights and protections

McKinney-Vento Program Eligibility rights and support

You Can enroll in school ( educational rights Poster) English Spanish and Korean

What you need to know to help your child in school(National Center for Homeless Education)

Your Child has the right to stay in school( National Center Homeless Education )

A Student Know your rights (ACLU)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #22 To: San Bernardino City Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, San Bernardino should, before academic year 2020-21, publish information on its website about the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

60-Day Agency Response

This information has been added to the SBCUSD website. This information is located within the Specialized Programs Department page, under the A.T.L.A.S. (Access for Learning to All Students) program, the program serving our families and youth in homeless situations. https://sbcusd.com/district_offices/student_services/specialized_programs/atlas/homeless_student_program

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #23 To: Vallejo City Unified School District

To comply with federal law and best practices, Vallejo should, before academic year 2020-21, publish information on its website about the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

6-Month Agency Response

Information is published on the districts website about the educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

The Student Services web page is currently being updated and will have updated educational rights and protections of youth experiencing homelessness on the page by January 31, 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing Vallejo's updated webpage at its 6-month response.

Recommendation #24 To: Greenfield Union School District

To ensure that families of youth experiencing homelessness can readily access information about the LEA's homeless education program as best practices recommend, Greenfield should publish its local liaison's contact information in an easy-to-find place on its website.

6-Month Agency Response

The LEA created links to the McKinney-Vento pamphlets in both English and Spanish, Residency Questionnaire, and Liaison's contact information. Families have the ability to access resources and information about the LEA's homeless education program by visiting district sites. The McKinney Vento webpage was completed by January 31, 2020 and will be updated as needed to ensure information regarding services and resources are kept current. Refer to the same links in item 3 for additional information.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

The LEA will provide links to the McKinney-Vento pamphlet in both English and Spanish, Residency Questionnaire, and Liaison's contact information. Families have the ability to access resources and information about the LEA's homeless education program by visiting district sites. The web page will be completed by January 31, 2020 and updated as needed to ensure information regarding services and resource are kept current.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing Greenfield's McKinney-Vento webpage at its 6-month response.

Recommendation #25 To: Gridley Unified School District

To ensure that families of youth experiencing homelessness can readily access information about the LEA's homeless education program as best practices recommend, Gridley should publish its local liaison's contact information in an easy-to-find place on its website.

1-Year Agency Response

On the district's Student Services page, the current liaison's information is posted under the heading for "McKinney-Vento (Homeless and Foster)". The Student Services site is available as a direct link from the homepage of the district at www.gusd.org.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

As part of the web design component of recommendation 20, GUSD will include the liaison information on the district website, prominently located and accessible to the public. This has been placed on the punchlist of summer projects for the special projects and technology teams.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

As part of the web design component of recommendation 20, GUSD will include the liaison information on the district website, prominently located and accessible to the public.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #26 To: Vallejo City Unified School District

To ensure that families of youth experiencing homelessness can readily access information about the LEA's homeless education program as best practices recommend, Vallejo should publish its local liaison's contact information in an easy-to-find place on its website.

6-Month Agency Response

The VCUSD website has published the liaison's contact information on main page and on the departmental page.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

The Student Services Department webpage is currently being updated, and will have Homeless Education program update on or by January 31, 2020. The update will include the VCUSD homeless liaison's contact information on the webpage in a conspicuous location.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing Vallejo's updated webpage at its 6-month response.

Recommendation #27 To: Education, Department of

To ensure that youth experiencing homelessness have access to the necessary services to help them succeed in school, by August 2020 Education should establish guidance for implementing data-sharing agreements between the LEAs and other organizations that provide services to these youth.

6-Month Agency Response

Fully implemented. In January 2020, Education posted the U.S. Department of Education's Interagency Data Disclosure document on its web page, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths. In addition, on March 11, 2020, a listserv announcement notifying LEAs of the document was disseminated.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

Partially Implemented. Education is strengthening existing resources for youth experiencing homelessness by posting the U.S. Department of Education's Interagency Data Disclosure document to its website by May 2020. This document will provide guidance regarding data sharing among LEAs and other agencies.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that Education provides effective oversight for the education of youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require Education to develop and implement an LEA monitoring plan that is risk-based and focuses its reviews, both onsite and desk reviews, on those LEAs that Education determines are at the greatest risk of underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness and those LEAs whose homeless education program policies may be outdated.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 408 (Quirk-Silva, 2021) would require Education to develop and implement a plan for monitoring the compliance of LEAs with state laws relating to youth experiencing homelessness. The implementation of this risk-based monitoring plan is required to include reviews of LEAs, including school site inspections to ensure that the state is not underestimating the number of youth experiencing homelessness. As of November 7, 2021, this bill is pending in the Assembly.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Introduced

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

AB 3218 (Quirk-Silva, 2020) would have required Education to develop and implement a risk-based LEA monitoring plan that includes reviews of LEAs including, but not limited to, school site inspections to ensure that the state is not underestimating the number of youth experiencing homelessness. This bill failed passage due to adjournment of the 2019-20 Regular Legislative Session.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

AB 3218 (Quirk-Silva) would require Education to develop and implement a risk-based LEA monitoring plan that includes reviews of LEAs including, but not limited to, school site inspections to ensure that the state is not underestimating the number of youth experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that Education provides effective oversight for the education of youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require Education to develop and implement procedures for verifying key information that LEAs submit through CARS. For example, Education can verify the information by requesting supporting documentation for a sample of LEAs that have reported zero or few youth experiencing homelessness and have indicated in CARS that their local liaisons have received training.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 400 (Chapter 400, Statutes of 2021) requires Education to develop and implement procedures for verifying that key information submitted by LEAs complies with the McKinney-Vento Act.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of May 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that Education provides effective oversight for the education of youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require Education to review LEAs' information in CARS about when they last updated their homeless education policies and remind those LEAs that indicate that their board policies may be outdated to update their policies to reflect current requirements.

Description of Legislative Action

AB 400 (Chapter 400, Statutes of 2021) requires Education to review the information submitted by LEAs and, if applicable, remind any LEA for which information about its policies is outdated to update their policies to reflect current requirements.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of May 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that Education provides effective oversight for the education of youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require Education to develop alternative interactive training, such as webinars in which participants can ask questions, to reach a greater number of LEAs. It should place recordings of these webinars on its website for all LEAs to review.

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of May 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that Education provides effective oversight for the education of youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require Education to provide guidance to local liaisons regarding their responsibilities under the McKinney-Vento Act, including that they must ensure that school personnel who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness receive training on the proper identification and reporting procedures. Also, it should require Education to develop procedures for its staff to use to verify that all LEA staff who provide services to these youth receive such training at least annually, as best practices recommend.

Description of Legislative Action

SB 400 (Chapter 400, Statutes of 2021) requires Education to develop and implement a system to verify that LEAs are providing federally required training to school personnel providing services to youth experiencing homelessness at least annually.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Enacted

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of May 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that Education provides effective oversight for the education of youth experiencing homelessness, the Legislature should require Education to use existing LEA data, including data on the number of youth identified as experiencing homelessness and performance outcomes of those youth, to identify LEAs that may be underidentifying such youth and that may not have effective homeless education programs. It should also require Education to assist these LEAs through appropriate means.

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of November 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of May 7, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

Description of Legislative Action

As of January 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

Recommendation #34 To: Education, Department of

To ensure that it has the resources necessary to effectively meet its responsibilities under federal law, Education should complete a staffing analysis by May 2020 to determine the resources needed to meet its responsibilities for homeless education. This analysis should consider the resources needed to implement all of the recommendations in this report.

1-Year Agency Response

Will not implement. Education does not have any additional comments regarding this recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education stated in its previous response that it does not anticipate needing additional resources for the program, the state coordinator told us during the audit, as we describe on page 50 of our report, that it still needs additional staff. We also conclude on that same page that Education has not clearly identified how many staff it needs to adequately meet its responsibilities under the homeless education program. Further, the governor vetoed Assembly Bill 16 in October 2019, which would have provided Education an additional 1.5 staff for its homeless education program. In his veto message, the governor noted that the need for additional staff was better considered during the annual budget process. Because Education would need to substantiate any request for additional staff when making a budget request, we believe that it is critical for Education to perform a staffing analysis to determine exactly how many staff it will need to meet all of its responsibilities for its homeless education program. Without such an analysis, Education lacks a basis to secure the necessary resources to administer the State's homeless education program appropriately.

6-Month Agency Response

Will not implement. Education does not have any additional comments regarding this recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education states in its response that it does not anticipate needing additional resources for the program, the state coordinator told us during the audit, as we describe on page 50 of our report, that it still needs additional staff. We also conclude on that same page that Education has not clearly identified how many staff it needs to adequately meet its responsibilities under the homeless education program. Further, the governor vetoed Assembly Bill 16 in October 2019, which would have provided Education an additional 1.5 staff for its homeless education program. In his veto message, the governor noted that the need for additional staff was better considered during the annual budget process. Because Education would need to substantiate any request for additional staff when making a budget request, we believe that it is critical for Education to perform a staffing analysis to determine exactly how many staff it will need to meet all of its responsibilities for its homeless education program. Without such an analysis, Education lacks a basis to secure the necessary resources to administer the State's homeless education program appropriately.

60-Day Agency Response

Will not implement. Education continues to not concur with this recommendation. As previously stated, Education does not anticipate needing additional resources for this program due to the augmentation of 2.5 FTE to the existing number of staff. However, if the homeless education workload increases in the future and more staff are needed, then Education will take the necessary steps to effectively meet its responsibilities.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education states in its response that it does not anticipate needing additional resources for the program, the state coordinator told us during the audit, as we describe on page 50 of our report, that it still needs additional staff. We also conclude on that same page that Education has not clearly identified how many staff it needs to adequately meet its responsibilities under the homeless education program. Further, the governor vetoed Assembly Bill 16 in October 2019, which would have provided Education an additional 1.5 staff for its homeless education program. In his veto message, the governor noted that the need for additional staff was better considered during the annual budget process. Because Education would need to substantiate any request for additional staff when making a budget request, we believe that it is critical for Education to perform a staffing analysis to determine exactly how many staff it will need to meet all of its responsibilities for its homeless education program. Without such an analysis, Education lacks a basis to secure the necessary resources to administer the State's homeless education program appropriately.

Recommendation #35 To: Education, Department of

If Education determines that it needs additional resources, it should take the necessary steps, including reallocating existing resources within the department, to secure the needed resources.

1-Year Agency Response

Will not implement. Education does not have any additional comments regarding this recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education states in its response that at this time it does not anticipate needing additional resources for the program, the state coordinator told us during the audit, as we describe on page 50, that it still needs additional staff. We also conclude on that same page that Education has not clearly identified how many staff it needs to adequately meet its responsibilities under the homeless education program. Further, the governor vetoed Assembly Bill 16 in October 2019, which would have provided Education an additional 1.5 staff for its homeless education program. In his veto message, the governor noted that the need for additional staff was better considered during the annual budget process. Because Education would need to substantiate any request for additional staff when making a budget request, we believe that it is critical for Education to perform a staffing analysis to determine exactly how many staff it will need to meet all of its responsibilities for its homeless education program. Without such an analysis, Education lacks a basis to secure the necessary resources to administer the State's homeless education program appropriately.

6-Month Agency Response

Will not implement. Education does not have any additional comments regarding this recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education states in its response that at this time it does not anticipate needing additional resources for the program, the state coordinator told us during the audit, as we describe on page 50, that it still needs additional staff. We also conclude on that same page that Education has not clearly identified how many staff it needs to adequately meet its responsibilities under the homeless education program. Further, the governor vetoed Assembly Bill 16 in October 2019, which would have provided Education an additional 1.5 staff for its homeless education program. In his veto message, the governor noted that the need for additional staff was better considered during the annual budget process. Because Education would need to substantiate any request for additional staff when making a budget request, we believe that it is critical for Education to perform a staffing analysis to determine exactly how many staff it will need to meet all of its responsibilities for its homeless education program. Without such an analysis, Education lacks a basis to secure the necessary resources to administer the State's homeless education program appropriately.

60-Day Agency Response

Will not implement. Education continues to not concur with this recommendation. As previously stated, Education does not anticipate needing additional resources for this program due to the augmentation of 2.5 FTE to the existing number of staff. However, if the homeless education workload increases in the future and more staff are needed, then Education will take the necessary steps to effectively meet its responsibilities.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education states in its response that at this time it does not anticipate needing additional resources for the program,

the state coordinator told us during the audit, as we describe on page 50, that it still needs additional staff. We also conclude on that

same page that Education has not clearly identified how many staff it needs to adequately meet its responsibilities under the homeless

education program. Further, the governor vetoed Assembly Bill 16 in October 2019, which would have provided Education an

additional 1.5 staff for its homeless education program. In his veto message, the governor noted that the need for additional staff

was better considered during the annual budget process. Because Education would need to substantiate any request for additional

staff when making a budget request, we believe that it is critical for Education to perform a staffing analysis to determine exactly

how many staff it will need to meet all of its responsibilities for its homeless education program. Without such an analysis, Education

lacks a basis to secure the necessary resources to administer the State's homeless education program appropriately.

Recommendation #36 To: Education, Department of

To effectively monitor LEAs and help them identify additional youth experiencing homelessness, Education should develop a method for determining those LEAs that may be underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness. For example, Education could determine which LEAs identified less than 5 percent of their economically disadvantaged youth as experiencing homelessness.

6-Month Agency Response

Fully implemented. Education developed a method using free or reduced-priced meal counts identified as less than 5 percent compared to the LEAs total homeless student enrollment, to determine LEAs that may be underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness and to assist in identifying additional youth experiencing homelessness.

In addition, Education developed procedures for the newly developed method and used the method as part of the risk assessment criteria in selecting the LEAs for Homeless Education monitoring reviews for 2020-21.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

Fully implemented. Education developed a method using free or reduced-priced meal counts identified as less than 5 percent compared to the LEAs total homeless student enrollment, to determine LEAs that may be underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness and to assist in identifying additional youth experiencing homelessness.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Education only provided a spreadsheet that shows data related to LEAs' students experiencing homelessness and those enrolled in the free or reduced-price meal program, as well as Education's identification of those LEAs that did not meet the 5 percent benchmark it claims to have developed. However, Education did not provide any policy establishing this benchmark and the steps it would take with those LEAs that do not meet the 5 percent benchmark.

Recommendation #37 To: Education, Department of

To effectively monitor LEAs and help them identify additional youth experiencing homelessness, for those LEAs it determines may be underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness, Education should provide general guidance on its website or through group emails to help them increase their identification rates and, as resources permit, should provide detailed technical assistance to selected LEAs that Education believes may be at the highest risk of missing a greater number of youth experiencing homelessness.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

Fully implemented. Education continues to use CALPADS and free and reduced- price meal (FRPM) data to identify LEAs that might be at risk of underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness. Education used this information to select LEAs for FPM monitoring, for both 2020-21 and 2021-22 cycles, that included targeted technical assistance regarding the LEA's identification practices and procedures.

Education also conducted two Identification Webinars in August 2021, with three selected LEAs that presented on their identification procedures and strategies; the webinar was recorded and is currently available to all LEAs on Education's web site at Resources for Homeless Children and Youths and includes the following:

New Identification Strategies and Resources in Response to Coronavirus (DOCX);

Identification Strategies for Homeless Children and Youth (PPTX);

Identification Strategies for Homeless Children and Youth Video; and

Identification Strategies for Homeless Children and Youth Transcription.

In addition, the housing questionnaire and posters are provided in all languages, and include the rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families, to alleviate any apprehensions of identifying themselves as such. Furthermore, Education provided and posted instructions and guidance for completing the questionnaire, which offers LEAs strategies to increase their identification of children and youth experiencing homelessness. This information can be accessed on Education's web site at Resources for Homeless Children and Youths and includes the following:

Housing Questionnaire and Instructions (PDF);

Guidance for Completion of Housing Questionnaire (DOCX).

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

Partially implemented. Education hosted a webinar entitled, Homeless Education: Identification Strategies, on September 9, 2020, to assist LEAs in increasing their identification rates of youth experiencing homelessness; additional resources are posted on Education's web site at Resources for Homeless Children and Youths and include the following:

- New Identification Strategies and Resources in Response to Coronavirus (DOCX);

- Identification Strategies for Homeless Children and Youth (PPTX);

- Identification Strategies for Homeless Children and Youth Video; and

- Identification Strategies for Homeless Children and Youth Transcription.

Education also developed and posted a training module on its web site entitled, All About Data and Homeless Education that provides direction to LEAs on how to evaluate and analyze various data reports to determine if an LEA is underidentifiying students experiencing homelessness.

Education will use 2019-20 CALPADS data, available in December 2020, to better identify LEAs at risk of underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness; dissemination of a technical assistance letter to those LEAs that appear to be at risk for underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness will be sent in January 2021.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

Partially Implemented. In January 2020, Education posted a link (https://nche.ed.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/identification.pdf) on its web site to the National Center for Homeless Education's brief entitled, Identifying Children and Youth in Homeless Situations.

Additionally, as part of the 2020-21 Federal Program Monitoring risk assessment, Education utilized the newly developed method for identifying LEAs at the highest risk of underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness as criteria in selecting the LEAs for Homeless Education monitoring reviews. Education will post an identification training module on its web site and send general guidance, i.e. emails, to those LEAs reporting zero enrollment of homeless children and youth. Education anticipates full implementation of this recommendation by November 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Partially implemented. To effectively monitor LEAs and help with increased identification, Education will provide: (1) general guidance on its website through an identification training module; (2) a link to the National Center for Homeless Education's brief entitled, Identifying Children and Youth in Homeless Situations; and (3) ongoing general guidance, i.e. emails, to those LEAs reporting zero enrollment of homeless children and youth.

Additionally, Education will disseminate emails to those LEAs at the highest risk of underidentifying youth experiencing homelessness, based on the results of the newly developed method for identifying these youth (see response to Recommendation 36). This same data will also be used as part of the 2020-21 Federal Program Monitoring LEA risk assessment criteria used in the selection of Homeless Education reviews; full implementation is anticipated by May 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #38 To: Education, Department of

To ensure that all LEAs receive necessary guidance and training, Education should review the guidance documents and templates, including the housing questionnaire and poster, that Education makes available on its website for LEAs and ensure that all the documents reflect current best practices. For example, the questionnaire and the posters should include the rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families to alleviate any apprehensions of identifying themselves as experiencing homelessness. Education should then make all LEAs aware of these revised documents.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

As previously stated, Education reviewed the guidance documents and templates, including the housing questionnaire and poster, which is available on its website for LEAs, and ensured that all documents reflect current best practices. The housing questionnaire and posters are provided in all languages, and include the rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families, to alleviate any apprehensions of identifying themselves as such. Furthermore, Education provided and posted instructions and guidance for completing the questionnaire, which offers LEAs strategies to increase their identification of children and youth experiencing homelessness. This information can be accessed on Education's web site at Resources for Homeless Children and Youths and includes the following:

- Housing Questionnaire and Instructions (PDF);

- Guidance for Completion of Housing Questionnaire (DOCX);

- "You Can Enroll in School" Poster (English)(PDF).

Education has also made all LEAs aware of these revised documents through listserv announcements, training modules, and all professional development opportunities.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

Fully Implemented. Education reviewed the guidance documents and templates, including the housing questionnaire and poster, which is available on its website for LEAs, and ensured that all documents reflect current best practices. The housing questionnaire and posters are provided in all languages, and include the rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families, to alleviate any apprehensions of identifying themselves as such. Furthermore, Education provided and posted instructions and guidance for completing the questionnaire, which offers LEAs strategies to increase their identification of children and youth experiencing homelessness. This information can be accessed on Education's web site at Resources for Homeless Children and Youths and includes the following:

Housing Questionnaire and Instructions (PDF);

Guidance for Completion of Housing Questionnaire (DOCX).

Education has also made all LEAs aware of these revised documents through listserv announcements, training modules, and all professional development opportunities.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

The poster on Education's website does not include protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families to alleviate any apprehensions of identifying themselves as experiencing homelessness. Until Education revises the poster to include these protections, we will continue to report the recommendation as not fully implemented.

1-Year Agency Response

Fully Implemented. As previously reported, Education updated the training modules on its web page, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths, to reflect rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families; a listserv announcement to LEAs regarding the updates was disseminated on March 11, 2020.

In addition, Education posted the document, Educating Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Letter dated January 2020. The letter outlines the LEAs responsibilities under the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act, best practices on outreach and coordinating services for youth, and reminds LEAs to (1) review policies and procedures; (2) use a housing questionnaire for identification; (3) provide and receive professional development; and (4) disseminate educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in locations frequented by families. Lastly, the letter offers LEAs the option to download the poster in a variety of languages or contact Education directly to request posters in English and Spanish.

Education also developed a housing questionnaire, which includes stakeholder input, and a guidance document to LEAs that explains: (1) who should complete the questionnaire; (2) how data is shared; and (3) how to communicate with families during the process. Both the questionnaire and guidance document are posted on Education's web site on the following web page, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths; a listserv announcement informing LEAs of the new additions to the web site was disseminated on April 13, 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented

Although Education developed a sample questionnaire that includes some rights and protections, it does not explicitly state that the information provided will not be shared with outside entities without the student's or parents' permission. Further, the poster that Education developed does not include any protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness. Until Education addresses these shortcomings, we will continue to report this recommendation as not fully implemented.

6-Month Agency Response

Fully Implemented. Education updated the training modules on its web page, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths, to reflect rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families; a listserv announcement to LEAs regarding the updates was disseminated on March 11, 2020.

In addition, Education posted the document, Educating Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Letter dated January 2020. The letter outlines the LEAs responsibilities under the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act, best practices on outreach and coordinating services for youth, and reminds LEAs to (1) review policies and procedures; (2) use a housing questionnaire for identification; (3) provide and receive professional development; and (4) disseminate educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in locations frequented by families. Lastly, the letter offers LEAs the option to download the poster in a variety of languages or contact Education directly to request posters in English and Spanish.

Education also developed a housing questionnaire, which includes stakeholder input, and a guidance document to LEAs that explains: (1) who should complete the questionnaire; (2) how data is shared; and (3) how to communicate with families during the process. Both the questionnaire and guidance document are posted on Education's web site on the following web page, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths; a listserv announcement informing LEAs of the new additions to the web site was disseminated on April 13, 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

Although Education developed a sample questionnaire that includes some rights and protections, it does not explicitly state that the information provided will not be shared with outside entities without the student's or parents' permission. Further, the poster that Education developed does not include any protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness.

60-Day Agency Response

Partially implemented. Education developed a draft housing questionnaire and is currently in the process of receiving stakeholder feedback (input window closes on January 15, 2020); the final questionnaire will be posted on its website. In addition, Education has begun; (1) updating training modules from its website to reflect rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families; and (2) reviewing and updating its website for LEA resources to ensure that all relevant documents reflect current best practices. Education anticipates full implementation of this recommendation by November 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #39 To: Education, Department of

To ensure that all LEAs receive necessary guidance and training, Education should Inform all LEAs of the requirement to disseminate information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in locations frequented by families of such youth, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and food pantries. Further, Education should encourage LEAs to inform families and youth about protections afforded to those experiencing homelessness. For example, it could encourage LEAs to accomplish this through their housing questionnaire.

6-Month Agency Response

Fully implemented. In February 2020, Education posted the letter, Educating Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness, on its web page, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths; a listserv announcement informing LEAs of this new addition to the web site was disseminated on March 11, 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

Partially implemented. On December 18, 2019, Education informed LEAs of the requirement to disseminate information about the educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness through an email sent as a Listserv announcement. This information will also be posted on its website in a letter format. Specifically, the letter outlines the LEAs responsibilities under the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act and reminds LEAs to (1) review policies and procedures; (2) use a housing questionnaire for identification; (3) provide and receive professional development; and (4) disseminate educational rights of youth experiencing homelessness in locations frequented by families. Lastly, the letter offers LEAs the option to download the poster in a variety of languages or contact Education directly to request posters in English and Spanish. Education anticipates full implementation of the recommendation by May 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #40 To: Education, Department of

To ensure that all LEAs receive necessary guidance and training, Education should revise its training modules to ensure that they reinforce key best practices recommended by the U.S. ED and other homeless education experts.

1-Year Agency Response

Fully implemented. Education reviewed, updated (as necessary), and posted the remaining existing training modules, as outlined in the ESSA State Plan. The training modules are located on Education's web page entitled, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths and include the following:

- Homeless Education and Early Education (PPTX);

- Administrator's Role to Increase Academic Achievement and Performance Among Students Experiencing Homelessness (PPTX);

- Health and Wellness for Students Experiencing Homelessness (PPTX);

- All About Data and Homeless Education (PPTX); and

- Collaboration with Community Partnerships and Service Providers to Support Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (PPTX).

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

Partially implemented. Education continues to; (1) update training modules from its web site to reflect rights and protections afforded to students experiencing homelessness and their families; and (2) review and update its web site for LEA resources to ensure that all relevant documents reflect current best practices. Education is on schedule for full implementation of this recommendation by November 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Education acknowledges the CSA's revision to the final report, which currently states "reinforce key best practices" instead of "reinforce all best practices," and now concurs with the CSA's recommendation.

Partially implemented. Education has begun; (1) updating training modules from its website to reflect rights and protections afforded to youth experiencing homelessness and their families; and (2) reviewing and updating its website for LEA resources to ensure that all relevant documents reflect current best practices. Education anticipates full implementation of this recommendation by November 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Recommendation #41 To: Education, Department of

To ensure that all LEAs receive necessary guidance and training, Education should develop training modules, as outlined in the state plan, for LEA staff who provide services to youth experiencing homelessness. These training modules should include the provisions of law and the definition of homelessness, procedures for identifying and enrolling youth experiencing homelessness, and the services that Education expects LEAs to provide to these youth.

1-Year Agency Response

Fully implemented. Education developed, finalized, and posted the remaining training modules outlined in the ESSA State Plan on its web page entitled, Resources for Homeless Children and Youths. The training modules include the following:

- Homeless Education and Early Education (PPTX);

- Administrator's Role to Increase Academic Achievement and Performance Among Students Experiencing Homelessness (PPTX);

- Health and Wellness for Students Experiencing Homelessness (PPTX);

- All About Data and Homeless Education (PPTX); and

Collaboration with Community Partnerships and Service Providers to Support Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (PPTX).

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

Partially implemented. Education continues to implement the responsibilities and activities outlined in the Homeless Education section of the ESSA State Plan. Specifically, Education is in the process of developing and finalizing the remaining training modules to meet the needs of the LEAs and anticipates full implementation of this recommendation by November 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Partially implemented. Education continues to implement the responsibilities and activities outlined in the Homeless Education section of the ESSA State Plan. Specifically, Education has developed two new training modules (draft) and will continue to work on developing the remaining training modules by November 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2019-104

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.