Homeless Data Collection (CEDARS)

Effective in the 2011-12 school year, school districts will use CEDARS data to populate the EDS Application. Districts will then review the data in the EDS Application for accuracy and complete data that is not pre-populated. Districts will have access to download the student level data that pre-populated the EDS Application.

Data collection changes
The student Y/N homeless flag (element B21 – Is Student Homeless?) will be changed to collect the primary nighttime residence of the homeless student (such as: Shelters; Doubled Up; Unsheltered; Hotels/Motels; Not homeless). In addition, an indicator of Unaccompanied Youth will be added to the Student Programs File.

Next steps for districts

• Identify students tracked/reported and align the data so CEDARS is accurate.
• Train district staff on tracking this information in the student system accurately.
• Alert the district assessment coordinator that OSPI will use the assessment score file to populate the EDS homeless application.

Who is homeless?
For the purpose of data collection, and as defined by McKinney-Vento Sec. 725, the term “homeless children and youth”:

1. means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence …;
   --and--
2. includes—
   1. children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;
   2. children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings …
   3. children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
   4. migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

More information

Homeless Data Collection From CEDARS May 19, 2011 Webinar (WMV, 32mb)

McKinney-Vento Homeless Data and the CEDARS SYSTEM: Webinar Q & A (PDF)

Counting Homeless Students for Purposes of the Annual Homeless Student Data Collection 2010-11 (PDF)

Homeless Data Collection From CEDARS, April/May 2011 Presentation (PDF)

Sample Letter: Exiting Homeless Students at End of Year (Word)