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School Teacher

Liaisons: McKinney-Vento and the Role of the Liaison

Read more about
Liaison Responsibilities

All Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), which includes all school districts, charter schools, and BOCES, must designate an appropriate staff person to serve as the McKinney-Vento liaison to help students in temporary housing and their families. 

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Featured Resources

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Liaisons 

Mandatory McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Training for the 2024-25 School Year

NYSED Field Memo

 

Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), McKinney-Vento liaisons are required to participate in professional development so theycan better identify and meet the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness.

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New Liaisons

Local Homeless Education Liaisons: Important Information for New Local Liaisons

NCHE Publication


This NCHE brief assists new local liaisons with:

  • understanding the responsibilities of the local liaison position,

  • becoming familiar with procedures and resources for serving homeless students in their LEA,

  • determining where to target their time and effort, and

  • identifying resources and support for becoming an effective local liaison.

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Liaisons

Local Homeless Education Liaisons: Understanding Their Role

NCHE Publication

This NCHE brief

  • provides information on the role of the local homeless education liaison;

  • reviews duties of the local liaison, as required by the McKinney-Vento Act; and

  • provides strategies for local liaisons to carry out their responsibilities, and for district administrators to support them in their work.

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Liaisons

LEA Policy on the Education of Students in Temporary Housing 

NYSED Field Memo

 

The New York State Education Department (NYSED or “the Department”) is committed to ensuring that students experiencing homelessness have access to the same free appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as is available to their permanently housed peers. Further, the Department must ensure that local educational agencies (LEAs), which include school districts, charter schools, and BOCES, review and revise policies to improve the identification, enrollment, attendance, and success in school of students in temporary housing. 

Topic Resources

Identification

A Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People

This guide, published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)and updated January 2008, describes several methods for identifying, counting, and learning about homeless people outside of shelters or other residential programs within a local homeless assistance network.

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

Allowable and Unallowable Uses for Title I Homeless Set-Aside Funding

New York State Education Department

All schools districts are required to set-aside a portion of their Title I, Part A funding for students experiencing homelessness. This document provides information about allowable and unallowable uses for Title I homeless set-aside funding.

Dispute Resolution

Appeal Sample Evidence

This document provides a list of examples of evidence that a parent, legal guardian, or unaccompanied youth may include in an appeal in order to show that the student is homeless under McKinney-Vento.

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

Chancellor's Regulations A-780

NYC Dept. of Education

This regulation updates and supersedes Chancellor’s Regulation A-780 dated June 29, 2009. It
has been amended to conform to the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
of 2001, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, and ensures that homeless
children receive the programs and services that children with permanent residences receive,
including services provided under federal programs.

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

Chancellor’s Regulations A-101

NYC Dept. of Education

This Chancellor's Regulation Clarifies the process for students seeking enrollment into non-zoned schools for
elementary and middle school grades (§§ II.E.4, II.F.2.d, II.H).

• Modifies that Committee on Special Education or school will develop a Comparable
Service Plan to provide a child with services comparable to those described in a nonDOE IEP (§ V.B.1).

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

Checklist for NYC Dept of Education School-Based Liaisons

NYS-TEACHS

This worksheet, created by NYS-TEACHS, is a checklist of responsibilities for NYC Students in Temporary Housing School-Based Liaisons. It is intended for use as an organizational tool for School-Based Liaisons to keep track of activities and resources for serving students in temporary housing.

Training for Colleagues

Communications Guide for McKinney-Vento Liaisons

NYS-TEACHS

Centering Anti-Racist Approaches to Conversations with Families and Colleagues
McKinney-Vento liaisons are responsible for the identification, enrollment, and the removal of educational barriers for students experiencing homelessness. McKinney-Vento liaisons can create meaningful change in their districts and the lives of students experiencing homelessness by providing internal trainings and connecting students to educational resources and community referrals. Unfortunately, due to systemic racism across many aspects of American life, Black, Latinx, Native American, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities experience homelessness at disproportionate rates compared to white and Asian communities. Systemic racism exists in schools; therefore, it is crucial for McKinney-Vento liaisons to reflect on school protocols and narratives that reinforce racial bias and inequity. Even small intentional changes, such as in our semantics, can have positive effects on family relationships and ultimately, the well-being and success of students. We created this tip sheet to help McKinney-Vento liaisons and other school staff reflect on their own communication styles, race, and how institutional racism impacts students and families.

Identification

Confirming Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights and Services

NCHE Brief
This issue brief from NCHE provides helpful information on what to do and what not to do when determining if a student is eligible for services under McKinney-Vento. Please note: with the reauthorization of McKinney-Vento under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which went into effect on October 1, 2016, there are stronger privacy protections relating to the confidentiality of address information for students in temporary housing.

About the Source

NCHE: Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) operates the Department’s technical assistance center for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program. In this role, NCHE works with schools, service providers, parents, and other interested stakeholders to ensure that children and youth experiencing homelessness can enroll and succeed in school.

Identification

Determining Eligibility for McKinney-Vento

This page of the Resource Library contains resources for Liaisons to help identify the eligibility of homeless students.

Identification

Determining McKinney-Vento Program Eligibility

This NCHE brief provides local homeless education liaisons and school districts with recommended steps to take and practices to avoid when seeking to confirm a student's McKinney-Vento eligibility.

Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution

This page of the Resource Library on this website contains resources for dispute resolution and the appeals process.

Referrals to Early Childhood

Early Care and Education Services in New York State for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness

This guide by the NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) has information for parents, early care and education providers, school district staff, shelter providers, and other social service professionals about early care and education programs. This guide also provides information on determining eligibility for children in temporary housing, and their rights and protections.

You can also find a handy chart where community-specific information about early care and education programs can be included and then shared with parents. This document is a fillable PDF, so you can enter information about local programs and services on the chart itself, print it out, and easily share it with parents. Additionally, a link to a fillable Word document version of the chart can be found below.

Note: Save the PDF or Word document to your computer before editing. If you modify the document within your browser, you may not be able to save your edits.

Referrals for Early Childhood

Early Childhood Education

This page of the Resource Library on this website contains resources for early childhood education and referrals.

Enrollment

Enrolling Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness in School

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-eligible students.

Enrollment

Enrollment Checklist

NYS-TEACHS

The McKinney-Vento Enrollment Checklist, developed by NYS-TEACHS, outlines steps McKinney-Vento liaisons should take when enrolling students experiencing homelessness. The checklist includes links to key documents and referrals.

Enrollment

Enrollment and School Selection

This page of the Resource Library contains resources surrounding Enrollment for homeless students.

Identification

Flowchart for McKinney-Vento Eligibility Determinations

This flowchart is meant to aid you in making decisions about a student’s eligibility as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.), but it may not capture every housing situation.

Training for Colleagues

Hidden in Plain Site

This report examines the growing problem of student homelessness by interviewing and surveying currently and formerly homeless students and the state coordinators and local liaisons assigned to help them. Written by a team of researchers at Civic Enterprises, a public policy and strategy firm, in association with Hart Research Associates, the study was released by America’s Promise Alliance, a leader of the GradNation campaign.

Unaccompanied Youth

Higher Education - schoolhouseconnection.org

This page provides comprehensive FAFSA-related resources to help youth, K-12 educators, homeless service providers, and higher education professionals understand, prepare, and fill out the FAFSA.

Identification

Housing Questionnaire (English)

The Housing Questionnaire should be used by all school districts as the first page of the enrollment packet for all newly enrolling students. The Housing Questionnaire should also be given to all students/families any time they report a change of address. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires all LEAs that receive Title I funds (including school districts, charter schools, and BOCES) to use the Housing Questionnaire. NYSED also encourages all other LEAs to use the Housing Questionnaire because it asks about students’ living arrangements in order to identify students experiencing homelessness in the school district.

Identification

Housing Questionnaire (Spanish)

The Housing Questionnaire should be used by all school districts as the first page of the enrollment packet for all newly enrolling students. The Housing Questionnaire should also be given to all students/families any time they report a change of address. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires all LEAs that receive Title I funds (including school districts, charter schools, and BOCES) to use the Housing Questionnaire. NYSED also encourages all other LEAs to use the Housing Questionnaire because it asks about students’ living arrangements in order to identify students experiencing homelessness in the school district.

Identification

Identifying Children and Youth in Homeless Situations

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.

Training for Colleagues

Mandatory McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Training for the 2024-25
School Year Memo

NYSED Field Memo

Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), McKinney-Vento liaisons are required to participate in professional development so they can better identify and meet the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness (42 U.S.C. §§ 11432[f][6] & [g][6][A][ix]). The New York State Education Department (NYSED or “the Department”) requires that the McKinney-Vento liaison from each local educational agency (LEA) attend at least one of the professional development sessions offered by the Department’s technical assistance center, New York State -Technical and Educational Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYS TEACHS), by June 30, 2025, to comply with the federal training requirement.

Training for Colleagues

McKinney Vento Billing

This Field Memo provides information about when a district can directly bill another district for tuition for a student who was homeless and has become permanently housed; and what documentation a district should submit to another district when requesting such reimbursement.

Identification

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, Reauthorized by Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is a federal law that protects the public education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The text attached here is the latest version of the law since it was reauthorized on December 10, 2015 by Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Unaccompanied Youth

NCHE: Students Living with Caregivers: Tips for Local Liaisons and School Personnel

This brief explores caregiver living situations and offers strategies that local homeless education liaisons (hereafter referred to as local liaisons) and school staff can implement to ensure that these students and their caregiver families receive appropriate services.

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

NYC Housing Enrollment Forms

NYC DOE

The forms posted on this site are for schools and Family Welcome Center staff to share with families. Each form is available in ten languages, and most forms are PDFs that can be filled out online. For children entering grades 3-K through kindergarten in September 2020, please reach out to the program where you’ve accepted an offer regarding specific registration instructions.

Identification

NYSED Guidance on Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

NYSED Guidance

This August 2019 guidance from NYSED provides basic information on the educational rights of students in temporary housing in NY State, including information on other NYSED guidance, forms, and resources.

Unaccompanied Youth

NYSED Memo: Provision of Educational Services for Recently Arrived Unaccompanied Children and Youth

NYSED Field Memo

This 2021 Memo from the New York State Education Department outlines important information and resources for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) regarding the rights of and services available to recently arrived unaccompanied children and youth. The memo includes information and guidance about immediate enrollment, free school meals, immunizations, and the English-Language Learner (ELL) identification process for unaccompanied children and youth.

Training for Colleagues

National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Liaison Toolkit

This toolkit is intended to assist LEA liaisons by providing information on increasing access to and success in education for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Please note: this resource does not include information on transportation protocols specific to New York State. For more information, please see our page on transportation

About the Source

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) operates the Department’s technical assistance center for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program. In this role, NCHE works with schools, service providers, parents, and other interested stakeholders to ensure that children and youth experiencing homelessness can enroll and succeed in school.

Identification

New York State Education Law Section 3209, Education of Homeless Children

NYS Education Law Section 3209 describes the rights of students in temporary housing in New York State.

Important changes to New York Education Law Section 3209 went into effect on April 20, 2017. The changes to this law reflect changes to the federal McKinney-Vento Act that were made under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Below, along with the link to download the new text of the law, you will find a link to a marked-up version of Education Law § 3209 that highlights the changes.

Identification

Non-Regulatory Guidance for the Education for Homeless Children and Youths

United States Department of Education

On March 2, 2017, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) revised the Non-Regulatory Guidance for the Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program. This revised Non-Regulatory Guidance replaces the July 2016 Guidance and includes new questions and answers on the amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act made by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which took effect on October 1, 2016, and new technical assistance on promising practices for implementing homeless education requirements at the State and local levels.

Posting Public Notice

Posters and Brochures

NYS-TEACHS offers FREE brochures and posters with information on the educational rights of children and youth who are homeless.

Posting Public Notice

Quick Tip Sheet Series

NYS-TEACHS

Our Quick Tip Sheets provide detailed information about the rights of students experiencing homelessness in a one-page format. Each guide is targeted to a specific school role.

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

Referral Templates for McKinney-Vento Liaisons

NYS-TEACHS

McKinney-Vento Liaisons are required to refer students and families to key services and supports. These supports include early education, health and mental health care, housing, and other appropriate supports. Our template referral lists are intended to help you streamline your referral process and/or provide information that may be needed in a sensitive manner.

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

Referrals Guide

These supports include early education, health and mental health care, housing, and other appropriate supports.
Our template referral lists are intended to help you streamline your referral process and/or provide information
that may be needed in a sensitive manner. Please note that these forms don’t replace individualized assistance;
they are meant to give you and your families a starting point and summary of local referrals.

Identification

STAC-202 Form - English

New York State Education Department

The STAC-202 form indicates that a student has been designated as homeless, and specifies the name of the district the student will be attending. It is also used by local districts to request reimbursement from NYSED for the costs of education a temporarily housed student who moves into the district from another school district in New York State.

In accordance with Federal and State legislation, all personally identifiable information (PII) must be sent to the STAC Unit via one of the following approved modes of transmission:

SED File Transfer Manager (FTM): Sign Up for access to SED File Transfer Manager here. Log in here.
Fax to (518) 402-5047, with notification to the recipient of when the information will be sent.
US Mail 1st Class/Priority, or with another service with tracking (UPS, DHL, or FedEx).

Identification

STAC-202 Form - Spanish

New York State Education Department

The STAC-202 form indicates that a student has been designated as homeless, and specifies the name of the district the student will be attending. It is also used by local districts to request reimbursement from NYSED for the costs of education a temporarily housed student who moves into the district from another school district in New York State.

In accordance with Federal and State legislation, all personally identifiable information (PII) must be sent to the STAC Unit via one of the following approved modes of transmission:

SED File Transfer Manager (FTM): Sign Up for access to SED File Transfer Manager here. Log in here.
Fax to (518) 402-5047, with notification to the recipient of when the information will be sent.
US Mail 1st Class/Priority, or with another service with tracking (UPS, DHL, or FedEx).

Dispute Resolution

Sample District Dispute Resolution Policy

New York State Education Department
This is a sample policy that school districts may adopt in order to follow the New York State procedure for resolving disputes regarding the McKinney-Vento Act. This resource has been updated to reflect the changes made to the McKinney-Vento dispute resolution process under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which went into effect on October 1, 2016.

Enrollment

Sample Enrollment Process for Students in Temporary Housing

Every Local Educational Agency (LEA) must ensure that students who are experiencing homelessness are immediately enrolled in school. This is a Sample Enrollment Process that school districts may follow for immediately enrolling students experiencing homelessness.

Transportation

Sample Transportation Protocol

NYS-TEACHS

This Sample Transportation Protocol helps with communication and coordination between school districts and local departments of social services any time the local department of social services is responsible for arranging transportation for a student in temporary housing. This Protocol is a template that school districts and local departments of social services are encouraged to use. School districts and local departments of social services are also welcome to adapt this Protocol to meet their needs.

Training for Colleagues

Tip Sheet: Navigating Challenging Conversations

NYS-TEACHS

This tip sheet from NYS-TEACHS guides the user through best practices for having conversations about housing status with families. We provide best practices for common scenarios.

Interested in more tip sheets from NYS-TEACHS? See our Quick Tip Sheets series targeted to specific school roles.

Referrals for Health, Housing, & Other Services

Title I STH Funds Short Guide:
Supporting Students in Temporary Housing

NYC Department of Education

Federal law requires that all school districts reserve a portion of their Title I federal funds to address the specific needs of students in temporary housing (STH). To comply with this mandate, all NYC DOE schools are allocated Title I STH Funds (Title I STH). All Title I and non Title I schools with students in temporary housing receive this allocation.

Transportation

Transportation

This page of the Resource Library on this website contains resources about the McKinney-Vento Act and N.Y. Education Law § 3209 regarding transportation for students in temporary housing.

Transportation

Transportation Guide for Students in Temporary Housing

NYS-TEACHS

This chart provides concise information on the transportation rights of students in temporary housing attending school in New York State. It includes information on available services, the responsible agency, and funding sources when serving students in many different housing situations, including for students attending charter schools.

Unaccompanied Youth

Unaccompanied Youth (Resource Library)

This NYSTEACHS.org page is in the Resource Library on this website. It contains many other resources and information about unaccompanied youth.

Unaccompanied Youth

Understanding FAFSA: The How-To Guide for High School Students

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. This guide is designed to help students and families navigate the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to get financial aid for college. The guide will be particularly useful for students who are among the first in their family to go to college or are new to the country.

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