Dedicate more staff time to homeless liaison responsibilities and designate school-site liaisons to improve identification and reengagement¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report recommends districts improve identification of students experiencing homelessness by dedicating more staff time and resources to McKinney-Vento liaison responsibilities and by designating school-site liaisons who collaborate with the district liaison, serve as a school-site point of contact, and help school staff understand these students' needs and rights. It notes "around two thirds of liaisons in California spend less than 5 hours a week on their liaison role", limiting identification and support capacity, and that most students experiencing homelessness are enrolled in districts receiving no McKinney-Vento funds.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Districts must designate a liaison under McKinney-Vento; effective identification requires sufficient staff time and resources dedicated to liaison responsibilities

Constraints¶

• In most districts liaisons also serve other roles, limiting their ability to execute their multiple responsibilities under McKinney-Vento; high turnover among liaisons can result in loss of relationships with community organizations

Target Learners¶

• K–12 students experiencing homelessness, including those disengaged after COVID-19 school closures

Target Learning Goals¶

• Identification, reengagement, enrollment, attendance, and access to McKinney-Vento rights and services

Related Strategies¶

• Policy recommendations: fully fund the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, expand allowable uses, base funding on homeless-student counts, and invest in community schools
• Combine public information campaigns, continuous staff education, and direct outreach to identify students experiencing homelessness

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Burns, D., Espinoza, D., Ondrasek, N., & Yang, M. (2021). Students experiencing homelessness: The conditions and outcomes of homelessness among California students. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/students-experiencing-homelessness