Homeless students to benefit from federal stimulus money

Homeless students in Ventura County and elsewhere will soon be getting a helping hand.

More than 200 California school districts, four in Ventura County, will share $13.8 million in federal stimulus money under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

The money will be used to support the education and related needs of homeless students, such as preschool, mentoring or summer programs, or data systems that keep track of homeless students.

The Rio School District in Oxnard is expected to receive $20,042; Santa Paula Union High School District, $12,482; Simi Valley Unified School District, $11,250; and the Ventura County Office of Education, $197,000.

Officials with the county office of education said the money will be used to create a countywide database to track students, especially the 1,500 homeless children and 700 foster youth in Ventura County. The aim is for schools and government agencies to share information.

By sharing information, schools and agencies, such as the courts, probation and mental health department, can make a coordinated effort to support these students, said Roger Rice, associate superintendent of student services for the county office.

For example, a judge who has a student's grades and record of attendance only a mouse-click away may order some type of social service for the youth rather than juvenile hall. Also, it would be helpful for schools to know when a student experiences a disruption in foster care living arrangements or the particulars behind why they changed schools.

The tracking program will be modeled after a similar one that's successful in San Diego County, said Stan Mantooth, Ventura County superintendent of schools.

"If everyone is on the same page it's much more efficient and accurate," Mantooth said.

He said he expects to receive the first of five installments, $40,000, in October.

Bill Waxman, director of secondary education for Simi Valley Unified, said the district will use its money to help about 80 homeless students according to their individual circumstances and needs.

If a homeless student lives in a shelter outside the district's boundaries, for instance, the district will provide transportation to and from school. Homeless students may not have gym clothes or school supplies; the money would be used to purchase such items for them, Waxman said.

Simi Valley Unified will notify school principals when the funds are available, Waxman said, adding that teachers and parents can funnel requests for help through them.