Youth engagement is a strategy to value and include the insights of youth in service planning and delivery. Often youth and their families know best what they need and how to make services work for them. This toolkit, developed by the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) addresses the following topics: What is Youth Engagement?… Read more »
Homeless Liaison
UNDERSTANDING YOUTH RIGHTS: Helping Providers Navigate the Laws and Policies Affecting Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
The laws about runaway, homeless, or unaccompanied youth can seem to be confusing and vague. While physically apart from their parent or guardian, homeless youth lack certain rights that can lead to confusion about legal issues of consent, eligibility for emancipation, parents’ rights, accessing shelter, public education, health care, and public benefits. Recognizing these challenges,… Read more »
Youth Homelessness in Texas: A report to fulfill the requirements of House Bill 679
The 84th Texas Legislative Session’s House Bill 679 (Appendix A) required the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), in conjunction with other members of the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless (TICH), to conduct a study of homeless youth and submit a report to the Texas Legislature no later than December 1, 2016…. Read more »
Homeless Youth Handbook – Texas: Legal Issues and Options
Texas Appleseed released the Homeless Youth Handbook for Texas in early December, 2016. The Handbook may be found at www.homelessyouth.org/Texas. Additionally, you may go to the “Contact Us” tab on the handbook website to order a hard copy of the handbook or to get a poster advertising the handbook that includes a QR code for… Read more »
The Services To At Risk Youth “STAR” Program
This document describes the State of Texas STAR Program. STAR originated in 1983 when the Texas Legislature approved a demonstration project for serving runaway and truant youth called the Services to Truants and Runaways project. By 1984 the first 15 programs were funded under grants from the Texas Department of Human Resources’ Protective Services Branch…. Read more »
Designating LEA McKinney-Vento Liaisons: Considerations Under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015
This document addresses the provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that create new requirements for the capacity, training and duties of LEA McKinney-Vento liaisons. Federal Guidance offers additional suggestions for implementing those requirements.
The McKinney-Vento Act and School Fees
State and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs) must develop, “review and revise, policies to remove barriers to the identification of homeless children and youths, and the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youths in schools in the State, including barriers to enrollment and retention due to outstanding fees or fines, or absences.” 42… Read more »
THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE EDUCATION RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN HOMELESS SITUATIONS
This document provides answers to frequently asked questions on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the education rights of children and youth in homeless situations, based on the amendments made by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, which takes effect on October 1, 2016. The answers are general responses based on federal statutes, regulations,… Read more »
Privacy and Homelessness: FERPA 2016
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. 20 USC §1232g; 34 CFR Part 99. Specifically, it prohibits a school from disclosing personally identifiable information from students’ education records without the consent of a parent or eligible student, unless an exception to FERPA’s… Read more »
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Dispute Resolution Process
This resource provides a link to the Texas Education Agency website page that outlines the dispute resolution process and timelines for LEAs in Texas. Click here to access the website.