The McKinney-Vento Act defines “homeless children and youths” as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” Lacking any one of these three conditions would make a child eligible. In other words, if the residence is not fixed, regular, and adequate, it is considered a homeless situation.
Procedures for determining homeless classification:
If you believe a family meets the qualifications or even if you are unsure, instruct the family to contact Nicole Carranza at 469.762.4100. I will meet with the family and ask them to answer some questions to determine eligibility. If the family meets the criteria, I will send an email to the campus principal, counselor and PEIMS identifying the family.
The Campus Counselor will then contact the family:
Inform the family about the services available to them and see if they need assistance accessing those services. (free/reduced eligibility, glasses & immunizations-nurse, school supplies and uniforms)
Let the family know that you (the campus counselor) are the “go to” person for homeless students/families.
2. The PEIMS clerk will code the student in Skyward based on the qualification status codes I will provide in the email to the campus to notify the campus of eligibility. If a student is coded Homeless in PEIMS at any time during the year, they keep that status for the remainder of the school year.
3. The Counselor will add the student(s) to the At-Risk list and code them in Skyward as homeless. The student(s) will remain on the at-risk list all year for homeless.
4. The Counselor will add the student(s) to the Homeless Master List for the current year using the qualification information I provided in the email notifying you of eligibility. You can use this guide if you have any questions, PEIMS Homeless Status Indicator Instructions. The spreadsheet entry comes directly to me and I will contact food service to let them know the student is eligible for free lunch.
If a student enrolls mid-year, you still must:
code the student in Skyward (PEIMS clerk)
add them to your at-risk list and code as at-risk in Skyward (Counselor)
add them to the shared Homeless master (Counselor).
The At-Risk list spreadsheet, homeless spreadsheet and the PEIMS report are the audit information we need to show that we have identified our homeless students each year.
Under federal and state law, children and youth experiencing homelessness have a right to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (federal law) provides assistance to states to help them ensure educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. This program helps State Educational Agencies (SEAs) ensure that homeless children, including preschoolers and youths, have equal access to FAPE, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youth.
Consistent with the McKinney-Vento Act, children experiencing homelessness are to be provided services comparable to those received by other students in the school they attend, including transportation services, and education programs for which such students are otherwise eligible, such as services provided under McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 or similar state or local programs and programs for students with disabilities.
State law also addresses the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness. Texas Education Code (TEC) §§ 25.001, 25.002, and 29.153 address educational rights concerning school admission and preschool for homeless students.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) assists states in meeting the early intervention needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and the special education and related services needs of children with disabilities. The rights and protections applicable to children with disabilities and their parents under IDEA Part B (Grants to states program) and the rights and protections applicable to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families under IDEA Part C (Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities program) apply to homeless children with disabilities.
States and their public schools also have an affirmative obligation to identify, locate, and evaluate all children residing in the state who are suspected of having disabilities and who are in need of special education and related services, regardless of the severity of their disability. This obligation, known as “child find,” is specifically applicable to homeless children.
The Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) provides resources and services to ensure that all Texas children living in homeless situations have the opportunity to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school.
The National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE provides research, resources and information enabling communities to address the educational needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness.
The U.S. Department of Education Guidance: Guidance on Homeless Children with Disabilities Q&A provides state and local education officials, early intervention services providers, and homeless assistance coordinators with information to assist with the implementation of the requirements of the IDEA and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The document was issued by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).