McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program
This program works to ensure the enrollment, attendance and the opportunity to succeed in school for homeless children and youth. This program collaborates with other state agencies and community providers to support homeless families and their students.
Important: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures, Congress allocated funding to cover the loss of school meals for students. However, many families who are homeless have not been able to access those funds. Homeless liaisons are encouraged to work with the district's SIMS contact and reach out to your families who have not activated their P-EBT benefits. Guidance and details on how to reach out are provided in:
Homeless Education Liaison
Contact
For technical assistance, complaints or other questions please contact our Problem Resolution Services staff at 781-338-3700 or compliance@doe.mass.edu.
Regional Homeless Education Liaisons:
Regional Liaisons have considerable experience and are available to provide local district liaisons with technical assistance on cases, best practices, and resources, assist with district trainings and mentor new homeless liaisons.
Guidance
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance — Advisories
DESE Guidance on Data Collection
Guidance on Fixed, Regular, and Adequate Housing: Identifying Family and Youth Homelessness
US Department of Agriculture Guidance for Homeless Children in School Nutrition Programs
Non-Regulatory Guidance: Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program
Federal and State Laws
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act (Title Vii Part B of McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance and Title IX Part A of ESSA.)
Massachusetts Caregivers Affidavit
Grant Program
Funding is available to school districts with significant numbers of homeless students and can be used to provide tutoring and academic support, professional development, engagement of homeless parents in their children's education, and access to mentoring, after school and summer programming. The current RFP for this grant provides further details.
Trainings, Meetings & Orientations
Information about future trainings will be posted here when confirmed.
DESE Data
Homeless Education Data Collection Report 2017-2018
Homeless Education Data Collection Report 2016-2017
Homeless Education Data Collection Report 2015-2016
McKinney-Vento Summary 2010 to 2015
Related Resources
National Center for Homeless Education
Last Updated: May 6, 2021