McKinney Vento-Texas Education for Homeless Children & Youth Program (TEHCY)
McKinney Vento-Texas Education for Homeless Children & Youth Program (TEHCY)
The Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program provides direction and leadership on the implementation of state and federal guidance regarding program services for McKinney-Vento eligible students. All Texas public schools, charter schools, and education services centers, collectively known as local education agencies (LEAs), must follow federal rules concerning the education of homeless students. These requirements are detailed in the McKinney-Vento Act.
The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is to identify and remove barriers for children and youth experiencing homelessness and ensure that students in these circumstances have access to all available supports and resources to meet the same challenging state academic standards established for all students.
All Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are required to designate an appropriate staff member as their local McKinney-Vento liaison. The liaison assists with ensuring that children in homeless situations are identified as homeless, are enrolled in school, and are receiving the educational services for which they are eligible. McKinney-Vento Liaison duties are as follows:
McKinney-Vento Liaisons Facilitate Identification of Students Experiencing Homelessness by Providing:
Identification Process
Training of LEA Staff
Awareness Materials
Community Collaboration
Liaisons must ensure that students experiencing homelessness:
Are identified collaboratively with school personnel, other organizations, and agencies
Are enrolled and provided equitable access to succeed in school
Have access to educational services for which they are eligible
Receive referrals for medical, dental, mental health, housing services, and other appropriate services (includes families)
Liaisons must ensure that:
McKinney-Vento posters are posted in locations frequented by students, parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth
Enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth are informed of all transportation services available, including school of origin transportation
School personnel receive professional development and other support to ensure identification of McKinney-Vento eligible students
Parents or guardians of students experiencing homelessness are informed of the educational opportunities available to their students and provided opportunities to participate in their student's education
Liaisons must ensure that unaccompanied homeless youth:
Are enrolled in school
Have opportunities to meet the same state academic standards as housed students
Are informed of their independent status for the purpose of the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA)
LEAs must ensure their designated McKinney-Vento Liaisons contact information in AskTED is up to date throughout the school year.
Districts submit their liaison information to TEA through the district's AskTED Administrator.
Charter schools submit their liaison information to the Charter School Division directly CharterSchools@tea.texas.gov.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
