The Education of McKinney Vento and Youth Program ensures that homeless students are provided a free, appropriate public education despite lack of a fixed place of residence or a supervising parent or guardian. Under NCLB Title X, the educational rights of homeless children and youth are protected by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program. The law requires that state education agencies and school districts ensure that young people in homeless situations have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including preschools, as provided to other children and youth (McKinney-Vento Act, Subtitle VII-B, Section 721 [1]).   

Every Local Education Agency (LEA) must designate an appropriate staff person as a liaison for students in homeless situations. This person may also be a coordinator for other federal programs. This brief explains the duties of the Mc Kinney Vento liaison and offers strategies for implementing the McKinney-Vento provisions in a school district.