Region 7 Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Region 7 Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Embedded Files
52,347 homeless children were identified in Pennsylvania during the 2024-2025 school year
Region 7 McKinney-Vento Resource Index
Eligibility & Identification
• Student Housing Questionnaire
• McKinney-Vento & Eligibility Interview
• ECYEH Intake Form
• McKinney-Vento Identification and Referral Staff Guide
• Doubled-up Living Arrangements
• Students Living with Caregivers or Other Adults
• Talking with Families About Housing Instability
• Checklist After Identification
• End-of-Year Housing Status Review
• When Students Become Permanently Housed
• What Do I Do If?
Enrollment & School Stability
• McKinney-Vento Immediate Enrollment Quick Reference
• Front Office & Registration Guide
• School Selection & Best Interest Checklist
• School of Origin Transportation Quick Reference
• Meeting the Transportation Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness
• Transportation Options for Students Experiencing Homelessness
• Records Transfer & School Transition
• Housing-Related Absences Response Guide
• Attendance, Truancy & Housing Instability
• Act 1 Addendum
• Act 67 Residency Disputes Quick Reference
Supporting Students & Families
• Family & Youth Rights When Housing Is Unstable
• Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Reference Guide
• Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: A Practical Guide for School Liaisons
• Unaccompanied Youth One-Page Handout
• Life Outside of School: Common Questions About Unaccompanied
• McKinney-Vento Student Check-In Packet
• Referral & Warm Handoff Quick Reference
• Community Partners & Shelters Referral Guide
• Equal Access to Activities & School Life
• Trauma, Housing Instability & School
• Language Access & McKinney-Vento Quick Reference
Liaison Tools & Responsibilities
• McKinney-Vento Liaison Handbook
• McKinney-Vento Liaison Duties Checklist
• New Liaison First 30 Days
• Annual McKinney-Vento Program Review
• McKinney-Vento Staff Training Planner
• Sample Handbook Statement
• Sample Procedures
• McKinney-Vento Data Documentation
• Summer Checklist for McKinney-Vento Liaisons
• McKinney-Vento PowerPoint Presentation
• McKinney-Vento Website Handbook
• PDE Website for Data
Special Topics & Student Supports
• McKinney-Vento Special Education Quick Reference
• Quick Guide for Administrators
• Guide for School Staff
• School Nurse Quick Reference Guide
• SAP Professionals Homelessness Guide
• Act 1 Graduation & Credits Quick Guide
• Act 1 Graduation Plan Toolkit
• Higher Education & FAFSA Quick Reference
• FAFSA and Unaccompanied Youth
• College Transition Checklist
• Title I & McKinney-Vento Collaboration Guide
• Title I Homeless Set-Aside: Allowable Expenses
• Private & Sensitive Information Quick Guide (FERPA)
• Educational Outcomes Statistical Snapshot
• McKinney-Vento Case Review Worksheet
Laws, Guidance & Disputes
• McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Guide
• NAEHCY FAQ
• Procedural Safeguards Notice of Denial of Enrollment
• McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Form
• Enrollment Complaint Process (PA Ed Law)
• Section 1302 & McKinney-Vento Quick Reference
• Cyber Charter, Residency & Homelessness Quick Reference
• ACT 47 and McKinney-Vento
• Crossing State Lines
• School of Origin and Feeder Schools
• Surrogate Parents Quick Guide
• Act 67 and Residency Disputes
• McKinney-Vento Act
PA Basic Education Circulars
• Enrollment of Students
• Admission to Kindergarten and Beginners
• School Immunization Requirements
• Act 1 of 2022 : Assisting Students Experiencing Education Instability
• Compulsory School Attendance
Eligibility and Identification
Student Housing Questionnaire
Helps schools identify students whose current living situation may qualify under McKinney-Vento.
McKinney-Vento Identification & Eligibility Interview
Guides the liaison through a respectful conversation to determine eligibility based on the student's individual living situation.
A comprehensive intake tool for documenting student and family information, housing circumstances, McKinney-Vento eligibility factors, enrollment needs, transportation, referrals, and other supports that may be needed.
McKinney-Vento Identification & Referral Staff Guide
Helps school staff recognize possible signs of housing instability and know when to make a referral to the liaison.
Doubled-Up Living Arrangements
Guidance for evaluating doubled-up situations and determining whether a living arrangement meets the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness.
Students Living with Caregivers or Other Adults
Guidance for situations in which a student is staying with someone other than a parent or legal guardian.
Talking with Families About Housing Instability
Practical guidance for having respectful, nonintrusive conversations with families about housing and living situations.
Checklist After Identification
A practical checklist of steps to take after a student has been identified as eligible under McKinney-Vento.
End-of-Year Housing Status Review
Helps liaisons review a student's housing situation when determining eligibility for the upcoming school year.
When Students Become Permanently Housed
Explains what schools should consider when a student's housing situation becomes fixed, regular, and adequate.
Region 7 case-desk quick reference for common school situations.
Enrollment and School Stability
McKinney-Vento Immediate Enrollment Quick Reference
Guidance for enrolling eligible students immediately and removing documentation or other enrollment barriers.
Front Office & Registration Guide
Practical guidance for registration and front-office staff when enrolling students experiencing homelessness.
School Selection & Best Interest Checklist
Helps schools consider school-of-origin and local-school options based on the student's best interest.
School of Origin Transportation Quick Reference
Explains key considerations and responsibilities for school-of-origin transportation.
Meeting the Transportation Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness
Article from Schoolhouse Connection disussing driver shortages and transportation strategies for difficult situations.
Transportation Options for Students Experiencing Homelessness A practical quick guide for schools when transportation to the school of origin is not readily available. Provides simple, flexible options including existing or modified routes, coordination between districts, transfer points, mileage reimbursement and gas cards, private transportation, public transit, community partners, and other creative solutions.
Records Transfer & School Transition
Guidance for supporting timely records transfer and smooth transitions when students change schools.
Housing-Related Absences Response Guide
Helps schools respond appropriately when housing instability affects attendance.
Attendance, Truancy & Housing Instability
Guidance for addressing attendance concerns when homelessness or housing instability may be contributing.
Identification form for students who qualify under Act 1 of 2022.
Act 67 Residency Disputes Quick Reference
Pennsylvania guidance for protecting students' enrollment while residency disputes are being resolved.
Supporting Students and Families
Family & Youth Rights When Housing Is Unstable
Plain-language information about educational rights and protections for families and youth experiencing housing instability.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Reference Guide
Guidance for identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: A Practical Guide for School Liaisons A practical guide for school liaisons working with unaccompanied homeless youth. Covers common real-world questions involving enrollment, permission forms and field trips, educational records, special education, medical care and emergencies, health insurance, identification documents, driver’s licenses, FAFSA, public benefits, and what changes when a youth turns 18. Includes quick-reference guidance on when a liaison may act or sign on behalf of a student—and when additional authorization is required.
Unaccompanied Youth One-Page Handout Quick reference for unaccompanied youth definition under McKinney-Vento.
Life Outside of School: Common Questions About Unaccompanied Homeless Youth A practical Pennsylvania-specific guide addressing common real-life questions faced by unaccompanied homeless youth, including driver’s licenses, health care and insurance, identification documents, employment, banking, SNAP, FAFSA, educational records, special education, and emergency housing. Includes clear guidance on what youth can do on their own, when adult consent may be required, and how school liaisons can help.
McKinney-Vento Student Check-In Packet
A practical tool for checking in with students and identifying changing academic, attendance, transportation, and basic-needs concerns.
Referral & Warm Handoff Quick Reference
Helps school staff connect students and families with appropriate services while providing a supportive transition to community resources.
Community Partners & Shelters Referral Guide
Guidance for working effectively with shelters, agencies, and community partners when connecting families with assistance.
Equal Access to Activities & School Life
Guidance for removing barriers to extracurricular activities, school programs, events, and other opportunities.
Trauma, Housing Instability & School
Practical information about how housing instability and trauma can affect students and how school staff can respond supportively.
Language Access & McKinney-Vento Quick Reference
Guidance for ensuring families with limited English proficiency can understand and access McKinney-Vento rights and services.
Liaison Tools & Responsibilities
McKinney-Vento Liaison Handbook
Region 7's comprehensive field guide for carrying out the day-to-day responsibilities of a McKinney-Vento liaison.
McKinney-Vento Liaison Duties Checklist
A quick-reference checklist covering the core responsibilities of the local liaison.
New Liaison First 30 Days
A practical starting guide for newly appointed McKinney-Vento liaisons.
Annual McKinney-Vento Program Review
Helps liaisons review policies, procedures, identification practices, training, coordination, and student supports.
McKinney-Vento Staff Training Planner
Helps liaisons plan appropriate McKinney-Vento awareness and training for different groups of school staff.
A customizable sample statement for LEAs to include in student, parent, or staff handbooks outlining McKinney-Vento eligibility, educational rights, and available supports.
A step-by-step guide for LEAs outlining the process from initial identification and referral of a student experiencing homelessness through eligibility, enrollment, transportation, services, documentation, and follow-up.
McKinney-Vento Data Documentation
Practical guidance for maintaining useful program records without creating unnecessary barriers for families.
Summer Checklist for McKinney-Vento Liaisons
Helps liaisons prepare for summer by reviewing student needs, school transitions, transportation, communication, records, and other responsibilities that may continue when the school year ends.
McKinney-Vento PowerPoint Presentation
Basic overview of the McKinney-Vento Act and LEA's responsibilities concerning homeless students.
McKinney-Vento Website Handbook
Guide to assist LEAs build an effective website for their homeless and foster programs.
Website for liaisons and LEAs to enter homeless student data through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
Special Topics & Student Supports
McKinney-Vento Special Education Quick Reference
Guidance for supporting students experiencing homelessness who receive special education services and ensuring homelessness does not create additional barriers to services.
Quick Guide for Administrators
Document that discusses the expectations of administrators concerning McKinney-Vento
Guide for School Staff Guidance for every staff position explaining how they can assist McKinney-Vento students.
School Nurse Quick Reference Guide
Practical guidance for school nurses supporting students experiencing homelessness, including health-related barriers, records, communication, and referrals.
SAP Professionals Homelessness Guide
Helps Student Assistance Program professionals recognize housing instability and coordinate appropriate school and community supports.
Act 1 Graduation & Credits Quick Guide
Explains key Pennsylvania Act 1 protections involving credits, graduation requirements, and educational stability for eligible students.
Act 1 Graduation Plan Toolkit Designed to support school entities and their Act 1 Points of Contact (POC) in developing and implementing effective Graduation Plans for Act 1 eligible students.
Higher Education & FAFSA Quick Reference
Guidance on higher-education access and FAFSA provisions affecting unaccompanied homeless youth and students experiencing homelessness.
FAFSA & Unaccompanied Youth Information on college application as related to an unaccompanied youth and school liaisons.
College Transition Checklist
A practical checklist to help students experiencing homelessness prepare for the transition from high school to college or other postsecondary education.
Title I & McKinney-Vento Collaboration Guide
Guidance for coordinating Title I and McKinney-Vento efforts to identify needs, remove barriers, and support students experiencing homelessness.
Title I Homeless Set-Aside: Allowable Expenses
A practical reference for understanding appropriate uses of Title I homeless set-aside funds to address educational barriers and student needs.
Private & Sensitive Information Quick Guide (FERPA)
Guidance for handling sensitive information about students and families experiencing homelessness with appropriate care and confidentiality.
Educational Outcomes Statistical Snapshot
Research-based statistics and findings illustrating how homelessness and housing instability can affect attendance, school stability, academic achievement, and educational outcomes.
McKinney-Vento Case Review Worksheet
A structured tool for reviewing complex student situations and considering eligibility, enrollment, school stability, services, and next steps.
Laws, Guidance and Disputes
McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Guide
Guidance for handling disputes involving eligibility, school selection, enrollment, or other McKinney-Vento rights while protecting the student's access to education.
This document provides answers to frequently asked questions on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the education rights of children and youth in homeless situations
Procedural Safeguards Notice of Denial of Enrollment
To be completed by a school whenever an enrollment or school selection request of a student experiencing homelessness is denied.
McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Form
A practical form for documenting and communicating a McKinney-Vento dispute and the rights available to the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth.
Enrollment Complaint Process (PA Education Law Center) Explanation of dispute procedure when there are issues surrounding enrollment.
Section 1302 & McKinney-Vento Quick Reference
Explains the distinction between Pennsylvania residency provisions and McKinney-Vento protections when a student is living with someone other than a parent or guardian.
Cyber Charter, Residency & Homelessness Quick Reference
Guidance for situations involving cyber charter enrollment, residency questions, and students experiencing homelessness.
ACT 47 and McKinney-Vento A practical Region 7 guide outlining Act 47 requirements for cyber charter schools and their interaction with McKinney-Vento protections, including residency, truancy, enrollment, and considerations in this developing area of law.
Guidance for situations involving homeless families and crossing state lines.
School of Origin and Feeder Schools
Guidance for determining school of origin, including situations involving feeder schools and transitions between grade levels.
Guidance on surrogate parent requirements and responsibilities for students experiencing homelessness who may need special education representation.
Quick guidance on Pennsylvania residency disputes, student enrollment protections, and situations where homelessness may affect residency requirements.
Full text of the McKinney-Vento Act
PA Basic Education Circulars
Enrollment of Students BEC Pennsylvania guidance on student enrollment requirements, residency, required documentation, and protections for students experiencing homelessness.
Admission to Kindergarten and Beginners BEC Pennsylvania guidance regarding public school enrollment procedures for resident and non-resident children entering Kindergarten or beginning school at the lowest elementary grade beyond Kindergarten.
School Immunization Requirements BEC Pennsylvania guidance on school immunization requirements, including enrollment procedures when immunization records are incomplete or unavailable.
Act 1 of 2022 — Assisting Students Experiencing Education Instability BEC Pennsylvania guidance on Act 1 protections for students experiencing education instability, including credit transfer, graduation requirements, and designated Points of Contact.
Compulsory School Attendance BEC Pennsylvania guidance on compulsory attendance requirements, unlawful absences, truancy procedures, and school attendance improvement efforts.
Please contact the regional office at 570-718-4613 or jzimmerman@liu18.org for any questions.
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