This quick-reference checklist from the Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) shares basic strategies for schools and school districts to identify children and youth experiencing homelessness. It briefly explains the legal requirements for identification and how identifying homeless students can help school districts be more competitive for federal funds. The checklist is designed for ease of use and includes links to sample resources.
Download the checklist.
Date added: 3/28/11

This fact sheet from the Legal Center for Foster Care and Education provides a brief overview of the overlap between the two laws, and the critical importance of collaboration between the education and child welfare systems to appropriately serve the needs of children in out-of-home care.
Download the fact sheet.
Date added: 3/01/11

This directory from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) includes over 400 organizations providing a variety of legal services to immigrants across all fifty states. The guide is organized geographically, followed by an alphabetical index of organizations by name. Information about each organization is displayed in a standard one-page format with various fields indicating the services provided, the area and detention facilities served, non-English language services available, and other relevant information.
Download the directory.
Date added: 2/21/11

This two-page profile provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Education's federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program. Topics include: A Brief History of The McKinney-Vento Act; Rights of Eligible Children and Youth; Funding History; Funding for States and School Districts; Program Administrative Structure; Homeless Student Enrollment Data; National Homeless Student Academic Performance Data; Interagency Collaboration; and Program Contact Information.
Download the profile.
Date added: 2/02/11

This new brief, developed collaboratively by NCHE and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is designed for local VA staff, state McKinney-Vento coordinators and school district McKinney-Vento liaisons, educators, and other providers of services to active members of the military and veterans, and their children. It provides basic information to assist homeless children of veterans or active military to enroll in school and receive education and other services available to them.
Download the brief.
Date added: 2/01/11

This contract explains TPS' policy on reimbursing parents of students experiencing homelessness (or other transportation providers) for providing transportation for the student to and from the school of origin.
Download the contract.
Date added: 1/26/11

This interdistrict transportation agreement provides the guidelines by which the district of residence and district of origin will abide when the provision of interdistrict transportation is required by the McKinney-Vento Act.
Download the agreement.
Date added: 1/26/11

This contract explains MCPASD's policy on reimbursing parents of students experiencing homelessness for providing transportation for the student to and from the school of origin.
Download the contract.
Date added: 1/26/11

This January 25, 2011, webinar, geared towards both the homeless education and higher education communities, will provide important information about FAFSA provisions allowing unaccompanied homeless youth to apply for federal financial aid for college as independent students. Topics include:

A brief primer on the McKinney-Vento Act and unaccompanied homeless youth

Determining independent student status for unaccompanied homeless youth filling out the FAFSA

Building community collaboration to support unaccompanied homeless college students
Guest presenters include Jennifer Martin from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and Marcia Weston, from College Goal Sunday.
View the recorded webinar.
Date added: 1/25/11

This June 2010 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) addresses (1) the availability, completeness, and usefulness of federal data on homelessness, (2) the extent to which research identifies factors associated with experiencing homelessness, and (3) how differences in definitions and other factors impact the effectiveness of programs serving those experiencing homelessness. GAO reviewed laws, agency regulations, performance and planning documents, data, and literature on homelessness; and spoke with stakeholders, such as government officials and service providers, about potential barriers.
Download the report.
Date posted: 1/14/11

This sample independent student verification form can be placed on your agency's letterhead and used to provide documentation of your determination of a student's unaccompanied homeless, and therefore independent, student status. NOTE: This template is to be used for students attending college for the 2011-2012 school year; please update the dates for different school years.
Download the template.
Date added: 1/07/11

This Colorado tip sheet lists strategies for providing a welcome environment and an effective support response for unaccompanied homeless youth in institutions of higher education.
Download the document.
Date added: 1/07/10

This Colorado tip sheet provides strategies for higher education personnel for determining independent student status on the FAFSA for unaccompanied homeless youth and for providing continued support for these students once their college enrollment has occured.
Download the tip sheet.
Date added: 1/07/10

This is the 2010 edition of the annual survey provided by the United States Conference of Mayors. It is a status report on hunger and homelessness in the United States based on a 27-city survey.

2010 Survey	2009 Survey
2008 Survey	2004 Survey
2007 Survey	2003 Survey
2006 Survey	2002 Survey
2005 Survey	2001 Survey

Date posted: 1/06/11

The two major definitions of homelessness in use by federal agencies are the education definition in Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Act, and the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition in Section 103 of Subtitle I of the McKinney-Vento Act. The definitions overlap and diverge in ways that can cause confusion. This chart, authored jointly by the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY), illustrates the similarities and differences between federal agencies' definitions of homeless. It should be noted that the HUD definition will soon broaden with the promulgation of final regulations, but the broadening will have conditions that are complex and detailed.
Download the chart.
Date posted: 1/03/11