Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in December 2015. This federal
legislation has supported homeless youth for the past thirty years by promoting
educational success for students who are experiencing homelessness.
Subtitle VII-B McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
McKinney-Vento funds may be used for college applications, tests and exams, clothing, tutoring, supplemental services, enrichment services, evaluation of strengths and needs of homeless children, professional development, provision of referral services for medical, dental, mental, and other health services, transportation cost (access to academic and extra-curricular), programs to retain homeless children in public schools, mentoring, homework assistance, and costs for obtaining records, education and training to parents about rights and resources.
Requirements regarding homeless students apply to all districts, regardless of whether the district receives a McKinney-Vento Homeless grant.
To locate the homeless coordinator for a district visit KDE's Open House or reference the Homeless Coordinator by District document. Homeless student count data is located on the Homeless Children and Youth Data Collection and Reporting webpage.
Reference the Homeless Liaison Toolkit from the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) which includes requirements of the law, good practices, sample forms, and links to resources.
Key Organizations
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)
National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)
National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH)
SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Eligibility Determination Resources
Homeless Liaison Toolkit
NCHE Eligibility Flowchart
Unaccompanied Youth Eligibility Flowchart
Determining Eligibility for McKinney Vento Rights and Services
Confirming Eligibility for McKinney Vento Rights and Services
KDE Newsletters
Homeless Children and Youth Newsletter - March 2025
Homeless Children and Youth Newsletter - January 2025
Homeless Children and Youth Newsletter - November 2024
Homeless Children and Youth Newsletter - September 2024
Homeless Children and Youth Newsletter - July 2024
Homeless Children and Youth Newsletter - May 2024