McKinney-Vento Liaison Duties

Waco ISD, in collaboration with the McKinney-Vento Liaison, has established policies and procedures to inform Waco ISD and campus staff annually of Waco ISD McKinney-Vento Liaison duties and contact information. The following policies outline the purpose, duties, and designation of the homeless liaison for Waco ISD.

FFC (Legal) Student Welfare: Student Support Services, 7/21/2020 

Duties

The liaison shall ensure that:

1. Homeless children are identified by school personnel and through outreach and coordination activities with other entities and agencies;
2. Homeless children are enrolled in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in, district schools;
3. Homeless families and homeless children have access to and receive educational services for which they are eligible, including services through Head Start programs (including Early Head Start programs) under the Head Start Act, early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and other district preschool programs;
4. Homeless families and homeless children receive referrals to health care, dental, mental health and substance abuse, housing, and other appropriate services;
5. The parents or guardians of homeless children are informed of the available educational and related opportunities and are provided meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children;
6. Public notice of the educational rights of homeless children is disseminated in locations frequented by parents or guardians of such children, and unaccompanied youths, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens, in a manner and form understandable to the parents and guardians of homeless children, and unaccompanied youths;
7. Enrollment disputes are mediated;
8. The parent or guardian of a homeless child, and any unaccompanied youth, are fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to the school of origin, and are assisted in accessing transportation to the school of enrollment;
9. School personnel providing services under the McKinney-Vento Act receive professional development and other support; and
10. Unaccompanied youths:
    1. Are enrolled in school;
    2. Have opportunities to meet the same challenging state academic standards as the state establishes for other children; and 
    3. Are informed of their status as independent students under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and that the youths may obtain assistance from the liaison to receive verification of such status for purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(6)(A), (B)

As a condition of receiving funds under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act), a district shall designate an appropriate staff person, able to carry out the required duties, as the district liaison for homeless children. A district will adopt policies and practices to ensure participation by the liaison in professional development and other technical assistance activities provided and approved by the statewide coordinator for education of homeless children and youths. 42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)

Notice

A district shall inform school personnel, service providers, and advocates working with homeless families, parents and guardians of homeless children, and homeless children of the duties of the liaison. [See FD for definition of “homeless children.”]

Determination of Homeless Status

A liaison who receives training under 42 U.S.C. 11432(f)(6) may affirm, without further action by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, that a child who is eligible for and participating in a district program, or the immediate family of such a child, who meets the eligibility requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act for an authorized program or service under Title IV of the Act, is eligible for such program or service. 42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(6)(D) 

Policy from FFC (Legal)

FDC (Local-A) Admissions: Homeless Students, 7/21/2016 

Liaison for Homeless Students

The Superintendent shall designate an appropriate staff person as the District liaison for students who are homeless. [See FFC]

The liaison shall receive and provide to appropriate staff members professional development regarding services required by law to identify and meet the needs of students who are homeless. In addition, the liaison shall regularly review with campus admissions personnel the laws and administrative procedures applicable to students who are homeless. 

Policy from FDC (Local)

FFC (XHIBIT) Student Welfare: Student Support Services, 2/15/2016 

The District has designated the following employee as the liaison for homeless students: