Guidance & Sample Documents for McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons

Local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to ensure that the rights and services guaranteed in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act are implemented for all students experiencing homelessness. All LEAs must follow the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, regardless of if they are a recipient of an Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) subgrant.

The LEA's McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison is required to develop, review, and revise policies and procedures to remove barriers to the identification, enrollment, and retention of students experiencing homelessness (42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(I)), ESSA Arizona State Plan (K)(1); (K)(6)). Required in all LEAs regardless of subgrant status, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison is the primary contact between homeless families, school and LEA staff, shelter workers, and other service providers.

The ADE Office of the Coordinator has developed guidance documents and sample forms in alignment with both the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the ESSA Arizona State Plan. Please note that these documents have been developed for McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons to adopt and adapt to fit the needs of their LEAs. To edit a sample document, refer to the Converting Sample Documents for LEA Use Guidance Document.

Please check back frequently for additions and revisions.

New Resource!

We are excited to announce a new and highly requested guidance document, the LEA Homeless Education Program Guidance Documents and Forms List! The information in this document has been compiled to help support Liaisons as they endeavor to establish and conduct policies, practices, and procedures to ensure the removal of barriers for homeless children and youth within their LEA. This comprehensive list organizes all of the available sample documents found on this site with a description, corresponding statute, and link to each sample document.

As outlined in the Arizona ESEA Consolidated State Plan, all local education agencies (LEAs), including charters, are required to utilize the Arizona Student Residency Questionnaire and Educational Rights of Homeless Children and Youths in the State of Arizona. Please access these documents and their corresponding requirements below.

Arizona Student Residency Questionnaire & Educational Rights of Homeless Children and Youths

Local Educational Agency Liaison Duties

LEA McKinney-Vento Training Sign-in (ADE Sample)

LEA Collaborations with Community-Based Organizations (ADE Sample)

ADE Consent to Release of Information (ROI) Sample

Additional Resources

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires State education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) to follow a dispute resolution process when parents, guardians, or unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) disagree with the LEA’s determination of eligibility for services, school selection, or school enrollment (42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(E)). The purpose of the dispute resolution process is to ensure the objective consideration of each party’s input to resolve disagreements expeditiously and in compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provisions.

The following dispute resolution forms are aligned with the dispute resolution process established in the Arizona ESEA Consolidated State Plan (42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(C)).

Student/Family vs. LEA Dispute Resolution Procedure and Form

Every LEA must have a written internal plan detailing the responsible personnel, process (i.e., sequential steps to be taken), and timeline required to provide written notification and assistance to parents, guardians, and UHY in filing disputes at both the LEA and SEA levels.

The LEA’s written dispute resolution procedure to address appeal requests at both the LEA and SEA-levels must reinforce the State dispute resolution procedure to facilitate the efficient and expedient resolution to disputes.

LEA-Level Dispute Resolution (Student/Family vs. LEA)
- LEA-Level Dispute Resolution Procedure & Form (Student/Family vs. LEA) - ADE Sample
  - If the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied homeless youth is dissatisfied with the LEA’s determination of ineligibility for services, school selection, or school enrollment, they have the right to file an appeal with the LEA after receiving the written eligibility notification.
  - The LEA-Level dispute resolution process must be fully actioned BEFORE filing a SEA-level dispute resolution request.
SEA-Level Dispute Resolution (Student/Family vs. LEA)
- SEA-Level Dispute Resolution Procedure (Student/Family vs. LEA)
  - If the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied homeless youth is dissatisfied with the LEA’s dispute resolution, they have the right to file an appeal with the Arizona Department of Education Office of Homeless Education within seven (7) business days of receiving the LEA’s written dispute resolution notification.
  - This form shall be used by the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied homeless youth AFTER the appeal process has been completed and a determination has been made at the LEA-level.
  - Please contact the LEA’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison to obtain assistance in filing a SEA-level dispute resolution request. If needed, please refer to the Arizona McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Contact List for the contact information for the LEA’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison.

LEA vs. LEA Dispute Resolution Form

In the event of a dispute between two LEAs regarding eligibility for services, school selection, enrollment, or transportation of a child or youth experiencing homelessness, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons involved must file a dispute resolution request with the SEA.

SEA-Level Dispute Resolution (LEA vs. LEA)
- SEA-Level Dispute Resolution Procedure (LEA vs. LEA)
  - This form shall be used by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons involved in an LEA vs. LEA dispute and outlines the process to file a request for a dispute resolution.
  - If you are not the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison, please consult with the LEA’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison prior to submitting this form.

ADE Guidance and Sample Forms

Additional Resources

ADE Guidance and Sample Forms

Additional Resources

ADE Guidance and Sample Forms

Additional Resources

National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)
- Transporting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness-Law into Practice Brief
- Transportation for Homeless Children and Youth: Strategies for Rural School Districts

ADE Guidance and Sample Forms

ADE Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit Sample

Additional Resources

All local education agencies (LEAs) are required to report reliable, valid, and comprehensive data on homeless children and youth (HCY) and unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) to the State education agency (SEA), as mandated by 42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(6)(C). These data are reported to the U.S. Department of Education to determine Arizona's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) allocation and guide programmatic decisions for the Arizona Homeless Education Program (HEP). Access information and comprehensive data related to the Arizona HEP by visiting the Arizona Homeless Education Program Data section of our website.

The following resources are designed to support McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons collect and maintain reliable, valid, and comprehensive data on HCY and UHY.

The Arizona Homeless Education Program subgrants federal funds to local education agencies (LEAs) to enhance existing programming designated to serve children and youth experiencing homelessness. Access information regarding funding sources currently available to LEAs by visiting the Grant Funding section of our website.

The following resources provide grant funding information and guidance for McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons and other LEA personnel.

ADE Guidance and Sample Forms

ADE Early Childhood Education Website