McKinney-Vento Resources

This NCHE brief explains the key provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act related to school selection and best interest determinations for children and youth experiencing homelessness and recommends local education agency and school-level strategies for implementation.

Step-by-Step Commentary Accompanying Flowchart for School Responsibilities Regarding Truancy

The Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH) contains the official attendance accounting requirements that all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas must meet.

TEA released a To The Administrator Addressed (TAA) Correspondence on 8/15/24 to provide guidance regarding disciplinary actions for students experiencing homelessness. 

This document provides a brief overview of disciplinary challenges and considerations for students experiencing homelessness, including prevention measures for chronic absenteeism and truancy.

The TEHCY Student Success & Behavior Support Guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to support and respond to students experiencing homelessness related to behavior and discipline. This guide presents clear and specific descriptions of the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act as they

Charter School Admission and Enrollment Guidance 2020-2021 School Year

NCHE Brief: Serving Homeless Children and Youth in Charter Schools.

NCHE Brief: Access to Food for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students.

NCHE Brief: Discusses the effects of domestic violence on children and their education, the connection between domestic violence and homelessness.

“Housing plays a central role in the lives of families; it is the largest single cost for most families, and its location determines a parent’s access to employment and a child’s access to education”. Lack of affordable housing is a principal cause of homelessness.

NCHE Brief: When Working Together Works: Interagency Collaboration between McKinney-Vento Programs and Homeless Service Providers.

NCHE: Provides an overview of education and workforce programs that serve youth experiencing homelessness, and suggests strategies for cross-system collaboration among these programs.

This memorandum provides policy clarification that will help to ensure that eligible homeless youth can access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released this resource entitled Youth Specific FAQs for Coordinated Entry.

This data and statistics resource is prepared by NCHE - Dec 2023 report includes an examination of data collected for the 2019-22 school years. 

Federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth (ECHY Program) Profile.

This NCHE tool and accompanying webinar address the federal requirements for gathering and sharing reliable, valid, and comprehensive data on CYEH. The tool includes an editable Homeless Education Data Sheet that stakeholders can use to customize datasets at the national, state, or local levels, which are valuable for elevating aw

Quick tool to understand homeless living situations, rights of McKinney-Vento eligible students, and data as they relate to the number of students experiencing homelessness in Texas.

The national Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) has many resources to help school districts, campuses, and local homeless liaisons prepare for and deal with disasters of many kinds, including hurricanes.

Unaccompanied youth who lack a caring adult to link them with supports and resources may have many unmet needs and not know how to seek help during a time of disaster.

This resource provides answers to some commonly asked questions to better support LEAs and McKinney-Vento Liaisons in identifying and serving students experiencing homelessness, during times of disaster. 

Connecting Schools and Displaced Students Brief Series What Relief Agencies Should Know About the Educational Rights of Children and Youth Displaced by Disaster. This brief is directed towards relief agencies.

This brief explains key aspects of the legislation, particularly as it relates to students affected by natural disasters.

This brief from NCHE identifies the key provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act with related to dispute resolution and offers strategies for implementation at the state education agency and local education agency levels.

This resource provides a link to the Texas Education Agency website page that outlines the dispute resolution process and timelines for LEAs in Texas.

This resource, provided by NCHE, is designed to support homeless education liaisons and other LEA stakeholders in overseeing the resolution of disputes under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Grounded in the McKinney-Vento Act and the U.S.

Best Practices in Homeless Education Brief Series: Early Care and Education for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness.

Early Childhood Homelessness in the United States: 50-State Profile. Current research establishes a strong connection between a young child’s early experiences and the developing of his or her brain structure. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, the early years of life can provide a strong or weak foundation for all future learning, behavior and health.

Students experiencing homelessness are eligible for free public prekindergarten. 

Summary of Final Head Start Regulations Related to Homelessness: On September 1, 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the first comprehensive revision of the Head Start Performance Standards since their original release in 1975. These final regulations apply to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

The Texas Department of State Health Services makes free birth certificates available to families for school purposes only. Information on acceptable identification to use for purposes of the birth certificate application is available at: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vs/reqproc/Acceptable-IDs/

This NCHE brief: describes common enrollment barriers experienced by students in homeless situations; summarizes the key school enrollment provisions included in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; and suggests strategies for ensuring the immediate school enrollment and full school participation of McKinney-Vento students.

This brief explains the provisions in the law related to school selection and offers strategies for implementing them in a school district.

All children in the United States are entitled to equal access to a basic public elementary and secondary education regardless of their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or the status of their parents/guardians.

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is authorized under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) (McKinney-Vento Act). The McKinney-Vento Act was originally authorized in 1987 and most recently re-authorized in December 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

ESSA increases resources for homeless students by expanding the availability and use of Title I A funds, and by raising the authorized funding level for the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program.

This is the full text of the 2016 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, with amendments, as signed into law.

This summary provides a brief overview of the key provisions of Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized in December 2015 by Title IX, Part A, of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The U.S. Department of Education released Non-Regulatory Guidance: Early Learning in the Every Student Succeeds Act. The guidance summarizes key supports for young homeless children included in ESSA amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act.

Statutory Language and Summary on Homelessness and Foster Care in “The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015” This document provides the statutory language of the major amendments on homelessness and foster care in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Federal Program Compliance Division: Providing Services to Homeless Students with LEA’s Title I, Part A Reservation

Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced a new comprehensive strategic plan outlining the Agency’s transformative effort to improve alignment, focus, and performance in service of strengthening academic outcomes for over five million students in public schools across Texas.

The purpose of Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA; 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.) is to provide all children with a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.

This letter from the U.S.

StudentAid.gov provides guidance to homeless youth navigating the Federal financial aid process.

People with disabilities are rapidly becoming more and more prevalent as college students. According to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), students with disabilities made up 11.1 percent of all college students in the 2011-2012 school year. That number is nearly doubled among students who are also veterans.

College is a time for learning and growth, not only on an academic level, but at the social level as well. Fitting in and feeling accepted is important to many college students. 

View on learnhowtobecome.org

A recent report from the National Center for Education Statistics states that over 2.5 million college students, around 11%, live with a disability. As part of their effort to support students in their pursuit of a rewarding and successful college experience, BestColleges.com has compiled a collection of resources for students with disabilities.

The AVG provides information to college financial aid administrators and counselors who help students with the process of seeking federal student aid for post-secondary education. Unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) are considered independent students for purposes of applying for federal student aid.

There are unusual situations where you will need to exercise your discretion as a financial aid administrator: when modifying the student’s data that calculate the EFC, performing dependency overrides, resolving conflicting information, reporting cases of fraud, and determining a student to be an unaccompanied homeless youth.

This resource provides tips for responding to questions on the 2024-25 FAFSA that may cause difficulty for youth who are, or have been, homeless.

The Financial Aid Toolkit provides school counselors and other college access mentors with information and resources about federal student aid. This site contains material about different types of financial aid, the FAFSA, outreach, and training opportunities.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on the challenges and barriers affecting the ability of homeless and foster youth to pursue a college education. GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the “congressional watchdog,” GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.

Figuring out how to pay for college is a challenge for any student, but for those coming from homeless or low-income situations, this may seem like a barrier that’s nearly impossible to overcome. This guide includes resources to cover extra expenses of school such as housing, text books, medical care and more.

This form, developed collaboratively by NCHE and NAEHCY, is to be completed by a college financial aid administrator (FAA) who is evaluating a student’s eligibility for independent student status.

Sample Letter for Independent Student Status of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determination.

Best Practices in Homeless Education Brief Series Supporting College Completion for Students Experiencing Homelessness This CCRAA provision has helped to ensure that unaccompanied homeless youth have access to the financial support necessary to pay for college.

On Friday, July 19, 2024, the USDE issued an electronic announcement reminding financial aid administrators of their roles and responsibilities with respect to unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness (UHY). This announcement is an update to guidance that was issued in April 2023.

Under Federal law, State and local educational agencies (hereinafter “districts”) are required to provide all children with equal access to public education at the elementary and secondary level.

This document contains the summary of legal requirements for student immunizations in Texas, along with the state implementation language for the McKinney-Vento Act immunization provisions.

The incarceration of a parent may leave a young person with no safe and stable place to stay and in the physical custody of someone who is not their parent or guardian. These young people may be struggling with a variety of difficult emotions and questions about what has happened to their parent and what will happen to them as a result of their parent’s incarceration.

State and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs) must develop, “review and revise, policies to remove barriers to the identification of homeless children and youths, and the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youths in schools in the State, including barriers to enrollment and retention due to outstanding fees or fines, or absences.” 42 USC §11432(g)(1)(I) This document is de

Includes a brief history of the program, state funding summary, and program data.

This brief describes some of the challenges faced by families, children, and youth experiencing homelessness; and provides an overview of the educational rights and supports available.

New to McKinney-Vento or need a refresher? This quick-read guide breaks down the who, what, and why of student homelessness. Learn how housing instability impacts learning, what rights students have, and how schools can respond with heart and strategy. A must-have primer for anyone working to remove barriers and build brighter futures.

This NCHE brief: summarizes the key provisions related to eligibility included in the McKinney-Vento Act; provides recommended practices for confirming the McKinney-Vento eligibility of children and youth; and informs training and collaboration practices on confirming eligibility.

NCHE Brief: Determining Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights and Services : Explores in detail the definition of homeless included in Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and provides a step-by-step guide for making determinations of McKinney-Vento eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

This downloadable and printable NCHE poster informs parents and caregivers about living situations that may qualify a student for services under the McKinney-Vento Act and explains the educational rights of CYEH. This resource can be printed and posted in schools and other public spaces. 

This NCHE brief: summarizes the key provisions of Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act related to the identification of children and youth experiencing homelessness; and provides an overview of implementation strategies at the state and local levels.

Local homeless education liaisons are Local Educational Agency (LEA) staff responsible for ensuring the identification, school enrollment, attendance, and opportunities for academic success of students in homeless situations. Some of these activities may be performed by the local liaison himself or herself, while others are accomplished by coordinating the efforts of other staff.

The NCHE Eligibility Flowchart helps school staff determine whether a student meets the McKinney‑Vento definition of homelessness by guiding them through key factors such as nighttime residence and whether the living situation is fixed, regular, and adequate. It also includes a template to document the student’s circumstances and the reasoning behind eligibility decisions.

The purpose of this brief is to provide the reader with the information about two important legislative supports that address these challenges for the benefit of migrant students who are experiencing homelessness.

A sample intake form designed to support identification & documentation; serves as a template for collecting essential student information to facilitate timely and appropriate services.

This NCHE issue brief summarizes McKinney-Vento Act mandates for school districts and schools, paying special attention to how certain principles in the Act would apply to charter schools. The brief also includes examples of specific states and charter schools that have implemented promising practices for serving homeless children and youth.

Wondering how Title I, Part A fits into your McKinney-Vento work? This resource connects the dots! Discover how federal funds can be used to support students experiencing homelessness, from academic help to essential services. Packed with practical tips and collaboration strategies to help you make the most of every dollar.

This printable NCHE brochure explains the MV’s definition of homelessness and key educational rights guaranteed to CYEH under federal law.

This NCHE brief discusses specific issues related to immigrants and homelessness, and highlights strategies for schools to support the education of immigrant students experiencing homelessness.

The recently updated and printable NCHE poster explains the rights of students for families who have lost their homes due to foreclosure, including immediate enrollment, transportation, and access to programs and services under the McKinney-Vento Act. This resource can be printed and posted in locations that families visit, such as laundromats,&

This information will help determine if the student meets eligibility requirements for services under the McKinney-Vento Act.

This NCHE brief explores the different federal definitions of homelessness used by the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S.

Unlock the power of your McKinney-Vento funds with the updated NCHE tip sheet. If you're unsure how to spend your TEHCY funds, this resource will guide you in making the best determinations for your funding.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released new McKinney-Vento posters. There are two versions of the poster, one to assist parents of school-age youth and a second to assist unaccompanied youth. The posters are available in both English and Spanish.

A look at a Nationwide survey of homeless students and school liaisons highlights challenges and opportunities, just as ESSA requires states to report high school graduation rates for homeless students.

Homelessness in America series, Focus on Youth: Summarizing the most relevant data and research regarding different subpopulations to help inform the work we must do, together, across the federal government, states, and local communities, to end homelessness once and for all.

Homelessness and Education – Cross-System Collaboration: Applied Research Summary and Tools, 2018.

This brief is designed to help teachers, administrators, and local homeless education liaisons maximize opportunities for students experiencing homelessness to accrue and recover credits and graduate from high school in a timely manner.

Best Practices in Homeless Education Brief Series Navigating the Intersections of the McKinney-Vento Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Coordination to Help Homeless Children and Youth with Disabilities The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the main federal program concerning the education of children with disabilities.

This NCHE tip sheet: summarizes the key provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act related to credit accrual;provides credit accrual strategies at the State and local levels, and; recommends credit accrual training and collaboration practices.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. 20 USC §1232g; 34 CFR Part 99. Specifically, it prohibits a school from disclosing personally identifiable information from students’ education records without the consent of a parent or eligible student, unless an exception to FERPA’s general consent rule applies.

A mini video produced and developed by our Education Service Center 13 to showcase ways to support students experiencing homelessness. This video centers around Creating a Family Kit.

A mini video produced and developed by our Education Service Center 13 to showcase ways to support students experiencing homelessness. This video centers around 'Three Bags of Support'.

A mini video produced and developed by our Education Service Center 13 to showcase ways to support students experiencing homelessness. This video centers around Setting up a Resource Center.

Helping You Help Your Child: Information for Parents Brief Series School Help for Homeless Children with Disabilities: Information for Parents Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If you and your family are experiencing homelessness, you may be struggling to enroll and keep your children in school.

McKinney-Vento Law Into Practice Brief Series Supporting Homeless Children and Youth with Disabilities: Legislative Provisions in the McKinney-Vento Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Children and youth who are homeless face additional educational challenges when they have disabilities.

Developed by TEA, this sample letter provides a template for districts to use when informing parents, guardians, or unaccompanied youth of transportation arrangements.

This NCHE brief summarizes the key provisions related to the transportation of children and youths experiencing homelessness.

NCHE recently updated its transportation brief covering McKinney-Vento Act requirements for CYEH.

Transportation Rural: The following strategies were compiled by the National Center for Homeless Education in March 2008 from local homeless education liaisons, state coordinators for homeless education, and state pupil transportation directors. All strategies must be reviewed for their alignment with your state’s or school district’s laws and policies related to pupil transportation.

This NCHE brief provides an overview of the importance of extracurricular activities in supporting school engagement and success, reviews McKinney-Vento Act requirements related to the extracurricular participation of students experiencing homelessness, and suggests strategies for ensuring the extracurricular participation of students experiencing homelessness.

This NCHE resource summarizes key provisions in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act regarding the removal of barriers for students experiencing homelessness and how this relates to the definition of enrollment; address requirements related to transportation to and from extracurricular activities; provides strategies for funding and providing transportation

UIL publishes this document to provide member schools notice of Texas Education Agency regulations which relate to UIL and all other extracurricular activities sponsored or sanctioned by the school district.

Eligibility and Enrollment Provisions for homeless student participation in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) are available at: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/tea-uil-side-by-side/admission

Schools in the United States have always welcomed new immigrant children to their classrooms – according to the most recent data, there were more than 840,000 immigrant students in the United States, and more than 4.6 million English learners.

NCHE Brief: Partnering to Support Educational Success for Runaway and Homeless Youth

This brief is designed to provide educators with an overview of the issue of minor sex trafficking and suggest specifc steps that schools can take to respond to signs of trafficking among its students.

NCHE Brief: A brief Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Students Experiencing Homelessness.

This NCHE flowchart provides a simple process of determining the McKinney-Vento eligibility of students living apart from parents and guardians. Using common living arrangements, it guides users to make accurate determinations of a student’s eligibility as an unaccompanied homeless youth.

The laws about runaway, homeless, or unaccompanied youth can seem to be confusing and vague. While physically apart from their parent or guardian, homeless youth lack certain rights that can lead to confusion about legal issues of consent, eligibility for emancipation, parents’ rights, accessing shelter, public education, health care, and public benefits.

Youth engagement is a strategy to value and include the insights of youth in service planning and delivery. Often youth and their families know best what they need and how to make services work for them. This toolkit was developed by the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS).