• McKinney-Vento – Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program

      The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless as children lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate residence. If any one of the three conditions is missing, the child is considered homeless.

      • Fixed: Stationary, permanent, not subject to change
      • Regular: Used on a regular (nightly) basis
      • Adequate: Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments

       House Bill 4545 Implementation Overview 

      House Bill 4545 recently passed in the 87th Regular Legislative Session. The new statute is effective, as of June 16, 2021, with accelerated instruction practices required during the 2021-2022 school year for all students. 

       

    General Information:

    • McKINNEY VENTO PROTECTION

      WHAT TO DO IF YOU QUALIFY FOR McKINNEY-VENTO PROTECTION:
      If you qualify for protection under the McKinney-Vento Act, you have access to certain rights and protections. There are several steps you can take to ensure that you are accessing all the benefits your community may offer.

      • Know Your Rights
        The McKinney-Vento Act grants legal protections so that children and youth (ages 5-21 years) may enroll in, attend, and have the opportunities to succeed in school. Read the following fact sheets provided by THEO to learn more about your rights and techniques for dealing with your children in a crisis situation.
        The Educational Rights of Students in Homeless Situations: What Service Providers Should Know
      • Meet Your Liaison 
        By law, every school district and charter school must designate a homeless liaison that can educate and advocate for homeless students. Liaisons’ duties include helping students without homes enroll in school or pre-school, assisting to arrange transportation to school, and mediating disputes.

        Find your school district's McKinney-Vento liaison by selecting the link below:

      Region One ESC McKinney-Vento Liaisons Directory

       

      UNDERSTANDING YOUR ROLE AS A McKINNEY-VENTO LIAISON:
      “Homeless Liaison” may be in your job description – but do you know what it means? By law, every local education agency (school district or charter school) must appoint a staff member to act as a liaison for students in homeless situations. Often this person holds one or more other job titles, including parent or school liaison, migrant or outreach coordinator, counselor, principal, federal programs director, or assistant superintendent.

      Liaisons are responsible for: Identifying students in homeless situations, enrolling these students in school, and giving them “full and equal opportunity to succeed”. This includes:

      • Ensuring qualified students are also enrolled in other appropriate educational services such as Head Start or pre-school.
      • Referring students to appropriate health services.
      • Keeping parents and guardians informed as to their students’ options and rights.
      • Publicly posting notice of educational rights.
      • Mediating enrollment disputes.
      • Informing about and assisting with transportation arrangements.
      • Helping students obtain immunizations (where needed), and medical records.
      • Informing unaccompanied youth (students without parents or guardians) about enrollment options and assist them in enrolling.

    Resources:

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    • Jessica F. Viacobo

      Jessica F. Viacobo M.Ed.

      • School Health & Counseling Specialist
      • Division of Administrative Leadership, School & Community Support
      • jviacbo@esc1.net
      • Phone: (956) 984-6015