Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program
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.
McKinney-Vento Posters
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released updated McKinney-Vento Posters. There are two versions of the poster, one to assist parents of school-age youth and a second to assist unaccompanied youth. The posters are available in both English and Spanish.
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) can download the digital files below and post this information on their LEA homeless education program webpage. LEAs should collaborate with their school staff and community partners (e.g. food pantries, faith-based organizations, local housing authorities, shelters, etc.) to share printed copies of this poster.
Announcements
New Resources Recently Released
- TEHCY 2022-23 Infographics for 2024 SY: Released 6/20/24
- TEHCY Discipline One-Pager: Released 6/14/24
- TEA TAA Additional Severe Weather and Disaster Guidance: Released 5/9/24
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Supporting McKinney-Vento Students During Inclement Weather and Disasters (FAQs): Released 5/9/24
Grant Funding Updates
ARP Homeless II Federal Grant Webinar:
TEA Grants Department provided an overview of the eGrant application and how to apply. Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program (TEHCY) Program staff reviewed the requirements for receiving funds, the timeline for submitting your application, and the allowable expenditures for grantees.
- ARP Homeless II Grant Information (PDF Presentation)
- eGrant Application Process (PDF Presentation)
- ARP Homeless II Webinar Recording
- ARP Homeless II Program Guidelines
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act - 16 Allowable Activities
Please note: All ARP funds will need to be expended by 9/30/2024. There will not be an extension to ARP I or ARP II funding.
Student Services
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) can locate an overview of student services (e.g., enrollment, transportation, dispute resolution, etc.) below. For further information and resources, LEAs can navigate to the TEHCY Web Portal linked at the top of this page.
Every LEA must identify students experiencing homelessness within their district. This process must be done regularly and in a way that is auditable. In Texas, most districts choose to use a student residency questionnaire to help determine whether or not students qualify as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. The TEHCY Program Infographic summarizes the identification and graduation data for students experiencing homelessness enrolled in Texas public schools.
Students who are experiencing homelessness are to be enrolled immediately. Districts cannot require students experiencing homelessness to provide proof of residency, immunizations, birth certificates guardianship documents, or any other sort of required paperwork before enrolling. Requiring missing paperwork or any other delay to enrollment is a violation of the McKinney-Vento Act.
Students who are experiencing homelessness have the right to attend school in their school of origin or in the school in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing. School of origin is defined as the school in which the child/youth was enrolled when they became homeless or the school in which the child/youth was last enrolled. The campus a child attends is determined by which campus can serve the best interests of the child. In Texas, a student experiencing homelessness may enroll in any district they choose, regardless of the location of their residence, school of origin, or attendance zone campus. [TEC § 25.001(b)(5)]
Disagreements over school enrollment and best interest determinations must be resolved through the dispute resolution process. While in the dispute resolution process the child is entitled to attend the campus in question until the matter is resolved.
Students experiencing homelessness have the right to transportation to their school of origin. This provision applies even if a student moves outside of the school of origins’ attendance zone or district boundaries. School of origin transportation must continue for the duration of the child’s homelessness or until the end of the school year in which a child becomes permanently housed.
Students experiencing homelessness who are not on a Title-I campus are eligible to receive Title-I services. These services are provided at the discretion of the LEA through existing Title-I programs or through the use of Title-I, Part A set-aside funds for students who are not on Title-I campuses. Students on Title-I campuses may receive additional supplemental services to the services being provided on their campus through the Title-I, Part A set-asides as well. Services may include personal school supplies, items of clothing that are necessary to meet a school’s dress requirement, immunizations, supplemental counseling services, tutoring, costs associated with credit recovery, or other similar activities to address a child’s opportunity for school success.
Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program
Email: HomelessEducation@tea.texas.gov
Phone: (512) 463-9414
Dr. Desiree Viramontes
McKinney-Vento State Coordinator
Dr. Ann H. Lê
Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Specialist