Federal Homelessness Resource Guide

Information by State  Print version

Department of Education (USDE)

Here's What We Provide

We provide formula grants to each State and several territories that assist children and youth experiencing homelessness to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school. We send the funds to the State education agency, which is allowed to keep up to 25% of the total grant amount at the State level for providing Statewide activities, such as the following:

• Professional development for schools, shelters, and other service providers
• Printing and disseminating brochures and posters
• Maintaining a toll-free “hotline”
• Establishing collaborations to resolve homeless education issues
• Producing videos to inform schools and service providers about homeless education

The remaining 75% of the State grant allotment must go to local school districts, including charter schools, through a competitive grant process. At the local level, schools can use the money for a wide range of activities to assist students experiencing homelessness. The funds are most often used for the following types of activities:

• Tutoring (before school, after school, summer, and week-ends)
• Social work services (case management)
• Clothing, shoes, and school supplies
• Professional development for school staff and community-based organizations
• Homeless awareness activities
• Supplemental transportation

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is part of the No Child Left Behind Act and is more commonly called “the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program” or simply “McKinney-Vento.” The Act includes a number of provisions that help homeless students, including the following:

• Each school district is required to have a homeless liaison to assist homeless students with enrollment and other school-related issues.
• Students who become homeless are allowed to remain in the school they were attending, even if it is in a district other than where they currently reside, and the students must receive transportation to this school.
• Students who are homeless must be enrolled in school immediately, even if they have no records.
• If a homeless student is denied enrollment, they must be provided the reason for the denial in writing, and they must be informed as to how they can appeal that decision.
• Homeless students are automatically eligible to receive free school meals without completing extra paperwork.

Here’s Who To Contact

Each State in Region VI is required to have a State Coordinator for Homeless Education who manages the McKinney-Vento program for their State. We encourage you to contact your State Coordinator for any help you might need regarding education for children and youth in homeless situations.

Arkansas
Ms. Susan Underwood
Arkansas Department of Education
(501) 682-4847

Louisiana
Ms. Deidre G. Kibbe
Louisiana Department of Education
(225) 342-5688
Website

New Mexico
Mr. Joseph Sanchez
Public Education Department
School Health Unit
(505) 827-1805
Website

Oklahoma
Mr. Dennis Dwyer
Oklahoma State Department of Education
(405) 522-4511

Ms. Amy Davis
Oklahoma State Department of Education
(405) 522-3251

Texas
Ms. Barbara James
The University of Texas at Austin
Charles A. Dana Center
(512) 475-8765
Website

Our Federal contact for McKinney-Vento
Gary Rutkin
US Department of Education
(202) 260-4412