Homeless | Displaced | Refugee Students I McKinney-Vento

New York State Education Department Resources

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education
Provides support to ensure that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education - including public preschool - provided to other New York children. Every school district, BOCES, and charter school is required to have an LEA liaison whose duties include the removal of barriers to the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in school. 

New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Education (NYS-TEACHS) 
Provides information, referrals, and free training to schools, school districts, social service providers, parents, and others about the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness in New York State. Provides a search field to find contact information for the local McKinney-Vento liaison serving your school district, charter school, or BOCES.

Sample Local Educational Agency Policy on the Education of Students in Temporary Housing (NYSED 12/2023)
Provides a complete list of McKinney-Vento liaison responsibilities.

  • NYS-TEACHS:
    • 800-388-2014 (Helpline for questions about school-related issues)
    • www.nysteachs.org
  • State Homeless Program Coordinator:

U.S. Department of Education

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
This Federal law provides support to ensure homeless children and youth have equal access to a free, appropriate public education. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, students are entitled to enrollment in school even if they lack the documents normally needed, including proof of immunization. The McKinney-Vento Liaison in each district is responsible for making eligibility determinations on a case-by-case basis and to help the student obtain the immunization records or immunizations (Section 722(g)(3)(C). 

Office of Refugee Resettlement ORR/ Division of Children's Services/Unaccompanied Alien Children's Program
Provides an overview of services for unaccompanied alien children (UAC).  Unaccompanied alien children (UAC) apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration officials are transferred to the care and custody of ORR. View an infographic about the UAC process 

Voices of Youth Count(Chapin Hall)
Voices of Youth Count is a research initiative designed to link evidence and action by capturing the experiences of runaway, unaccompanied homeless, and unstably housed youth in order to provide knowledge on how schools and communities can work to end youth homelessness. Their website contains current data on youth homelessness with specific resources related to LGBT, rural and pregnant, and parent youth, as well as the impact on academic achievement. To view the resources, click on the Project website link on the main page. 

See Also:

Page Updated 8/23/24