Homeless Education

Though homeless children and youths may face great challenges, teachers, school leaders, counselors, and other caring school staff can ensure that a student's rights are upheld and can work to connect students to other supports that can make a world of difference. 

• Create a welcoming climate and build trust with all students.
• Help to identify and support homeless students.
• Be sensitive and understanding.
• Ensure that school and classroom policies and procedures, such as disciplinary policies, are fair to homeless students and do not negatively impact them because of their homelessness
• Learn more about the McKinney-Vento Act and connect with your local liaison.

• McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Toolkit - provides clear and specific explanations of the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act and includes practices, procedures, and tools gathered from effective local homeless education programs.

• Local Homeless Education Liaisons: Understanding Their Role - provides information on the role of the local homeless education liaison, reviews the duties of the local liaison, and provides strategies for local liaisons to carry out their responsibilities.

• Education Liaison School Staff Resource Guide -  provides guidance for school personnel in supporting homeless families, children, and youth.  Included, are a summary of the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act, state legislation, the role of the Homeless Liaison, and strategies for helping homeless students enroll in school, attend regularly, and succeed academically.  

• Resources for Educators, Liaisons, and School Administrators - UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools have gathered numerous useful resources for educators, homeless liaisons, school administrators, and others working with homeless youth and families.​

• Graduation Exemption Protocol for Students Experiencing Homelessness  Students experiencing homelessness may be eligible for Graduation Exemption provisions of California Assembly Bill (AB)1806 if the student transferred schools after completing two years of high school.
  Graduation Exemption Notification to Parent or Education Rights Holder
  ​Graduation Exemption Form for McKinney-Vento Eligible Student

• Unaccompanied Youth Flowchart - a tool created by the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) which can serve, in general terms, to determine eligibility for McKinney-Vento services as an unaccompanied homeless student.

• Supporting Homeless Children and Youth with Disabilities  Legislative Provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• Understanding Privacy Standards of Student Educational and Health Records An explanation of the relationship between FERPA and HIPAA and how these laws apply to records maintained and shared between schools and other agencies.

• Quick Steps for Families Experiencing Homelessness 

• California Coalition for Youth (CCY) provides strong statewide policy leadership around issues concerning disconnected runaway and homeless youth and provides direct support to youth and families through our program, the California Youth Crisis Line

  • ​Text or Call the Line:  1-800-843-5200

  • Chat Line 

• Unaccompanied Youth Legislation  Describes educational barriers and challenges faced by unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness and provides strategies and provisions of current legislation

• What You Need To Know To Help Your Child in School

• Student Training & Education in Public Service (STEPS) assists students in their education and training, developing career skills, and finding a calling.  Two support guides have been created for low-income and homeless college students:

  • Helping Hand: Resources & Support for Low-Income College Students 

  • Resources & Scholarships for Homeless Students

• McKinney-Vento Self-Declaration Form This form can be used by a parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth to declare residence status. 

• Community Resources Brochure | (English)

• Community Resources Brochure | (Spanish) 

• Focus on Prevention Stanislaus County - Focus on Prevention is a county-wide initiative that aims to improve the quality of life for all Stanislaus County residents and families through coordinated prevention efforts that work across multiple sectors to promote health and wellbeing. 

  • 2020 Stanislaus County Youth and Well-Being Spotlight

• Focus on Prevention Resource Guide

• CalFresh Application Information - CalFresh is a program for low-income families and individuals that meet certain income guidelines. CalFresh benefits help supplement your food budget and allow families and individuals to buy nutritious food.