McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and education stability for homeless children and young people.  The term “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons.  Students who are homeless are not required to provide proof of residency before enrolling. 

Benefits for Students

• Coordinate services between students, families and community agencies
• Provide transportation for eligible students to school of origin
• Provide free lunch
• Provide school supplies
• Provide tutorials for eligible secondary students
• Provide credit recovery opportunities for eligible secondary students 

Homeless Liaison

Every school district must designate an appropriate staff person as a liaison for students in homeless situations.   Liaisons must ensure that:

• Children and young people in homeless situations are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies.
• Students enroll in, and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in  school.
• Families, children, and young people receive educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start, Even Start, and pre-school programs, and referrals to health, mental health, dental, and other appropriate services.
• Parents or guardians are informed of educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.
• Public notice of the educational rights of students in homeless situations is disseminated where children and youth receive services under the Act.
• Enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with the Enrollment Disputes section of the McKinney-Vento Act.
• Parents and guardians and unaccompanied youth are fully informed of all transportation services, including to the school of origin, and are assisted in accessing transportation services.
• Liaisons must assist children and young people who do not have immunizations or immunization or medical records to obtain necessary immunizations or immunization or medical records.
• Liaisons must help unaccompanied young people choose and enroll in a school, after considering the youths' wishes, and provide young people with notice of their right to appeal an enrollment decision that is not their choice.
•  Liaisons must ensure that unaccompanied young people are immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of disputes that might arise over school enrollment or placement.

Community Resources

COVID-19 Resources:

• Texas Education Agency COVID-19 Support and Guidance
• Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program
• Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYTS): Provider Directory
• Texas Workforce Commission COVID-19 Resources
• Texas Health and Human Services COVID-19 Resources
• 211 TEXAS for Community Resources

Clothed By Faith  

Provides new and gently used clothing for those needing assistance.
802 Dominion Drive, Suite 100​
​Katy, TX 77450
281.676.8837

Hope Impacts

www.hopeimpacts.net

Provides partnerships, information, and resources to address the physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs of the homeless and under resourced in the Katy community.

 713.705.7884

If you are a community organization and would like to offer assistance, please contact our office at 281-396-2243.