Vision: To ensure that children experiencing homelessness or unaccompanied youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
Mission: To work with school districts, schools and other partners in order to provide educational stability to students experiencing homeless by removing barriers such as enrollment in school, transportation, access to school meals, appropriate education and extra-curricular activities.
Federal definition of a homeless child or youth
Students who qualify for this program include children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
The term includes—Children and youths who are:
- sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as “doubled-up”);
- living in motels, hotels, RV parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
- living in emergency or transitional shelters; or
- abandoned in hospitals;
- Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
- Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.
If, due to a loss of housing, a child must live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground, on the street, in abandoned buildings, or doubled-up with relatives or friends, then they are eligible to receive services provided under the McKinney-Vento Act.
Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program
School Year 2024-2025 Homeless Liaison Contact Information
Assessing the Capacity for the Homeless Liaison
Homeless Liaisons for New Mexico Districts and Charters
According to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), every school district or state charter school must have a designated homeless liaison, regardless of whether or not the school district or state charter school receives McKinney-Vento funding.
Each local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths, shall ensure that —
- homeless children and youths are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies;
- homeless children and youths enroll in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in, schools of that local educational agency;
- homeless families, children, and youths receive educational services for which such families, children, and youths are eligible, including Head Start and Even Start programs and preschool programs administered by the local educational agency, and referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health services, and other appropriate services;
- the parents or guardians of homeless children and youths are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children;
- public notice of the educational rights of homeless children and youths is disseminated where such children and youths receive services under this Act, such as schools, family shelters, and soup kitchens;
- enrollment disputes are mediated; and
- the parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth, and any unaccompanied youth, is fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to the school of origin, and is assisted in accessing transportation to the school.
McKinney-Vento Act: Quick Reference
First Step: Identifying Students Experiencing Homelessness – Google Docs
Next Step: Supporting Students After They’ve Been Identified as Homeless – Google Docs
Awareness & Training Resources
Meeting the Transportation Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness
Supporting the Attendance of Students Experiencing Homelessness
2024-2025 Empowering McKinney-Vento Liaisons: Strategies for Success (New Mexico Virtual Conference)
2023 Striving for Equity: Supporting the Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
2022 New Mexico Education for Homeless Youth Conference
Day 1 – October 4
Introduction – Recording
Main Presentation – PDF
McKinney-Vento 101 – Recording
McKinney-Vento 101 Presentation – PDF
McKinney-Vento 101 Resources – PDF
McKinney-Vento 201 – Recording
McKinney-Vento 201 Presentation – PDF
Dispute Resolution – Recording
Reflections – Recording
Day 2 – October 13
Recording
Main Presentation – PDF
Day 1 Recap/Questions – Immunization Letter
Increasing Enrollment of Young Children Experiencing Homelessness in New Mexico Presentation – PDF
Helping New Mexico Students Pursue Higher Education Presentation – PDF
Day 3 – October 19
Recording
Main Presentation – PDF
Fostering Resilience in Our Students Presentation – PDF
2021-2022 ALL Access Pass: Creating Access to Educational & Wraparound Supports for Students Experiencing Homelessness Virtual Conference
April 26, 2022
| Session | Presenters | Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Remarks | Dana Malone, State Coordinator for Homeless Education and Deputy Secretary Kata Sandoval, New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) | |
| McKinney-Vento 101 | Christina Dukes (Pearl Strategies) and Dana Malone | |
| McKinney-Vento 201 | Erin Patterson and Karen Rice (SchoolHouse Connection) | |
| ARP-HCY 101 and Promising Practices | Christina Dukes (Pearl Strategies) and Dana Malone | |
| Eligibility, Outreach, and Identification | Christina Dukes (Pearl Strategies) and Dana Malone |
April 27, 2022
| Session | Presenters | Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Remarks | Christina Dukes (Pearl Strategies) | |
| Hear Us Highlight | Diane Nilan (Hear US: Giving Voice and Visibility to Homeless Children and Youth) | |
| Early Childhood | Erin Patterson (SchoolHouse Connection) | |
| Higher Education | Jillian Sitjar (SchoolHouse Connection) and Mia Candelaria (NM Higher Education Department) |
April 28, 2022
| Session | Presenters | Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Remarks McKinney-Vento.org Highlight | Jillian Sitjar and Tom Bieniewicz | |
| Federal and State Policy Updates | Alleanne Anderson (SchoolHouse Connection) and Megan Mead (NM Appleseed) | |
| Cross-Systems Collaborations | Dana Malone, Megan Mead, Lisa Howley (HSD), Forrest Dudek (NMCEH), Renee Ward (DFA), Donnie Quintana (DFA), Kelly Patterson (MFA), and Hilari Lipton (CYFD) | |
| Close Out | Dana Malone |
Enrollment Documents
Accessing IDs for Unaccompanied Youth
New Mexico 2022-2023 School Entry Immunization Requirements
DOH’s School Immunization Requirements
Birth Application Form English
Birth Application Form Spanish
Homeless Attestation Form English
Homeless Attestation Form Spanish
Sample Forms
Updated ECHY Student Assessment Form
Hobbs HOPE McKinney-Vento Act Form
Unaccompanied Youth Eligibility Flowchart
Gallup McKinney-Vento Brochure
Information for School-Aged Youth Flyer
Updated ECHY NM Enrollment Form
Assessing the Capacity for the Homeless Liaison
- Information Regarding Serving Students Who are Afghan Evacuees Under the MVA
- Public Charge: What Advocates Need to Know – NILC
- Recent Immigrant Children: A Profile of New Arrivals to U.S. Schools
- NMILC-The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center
- Immigration Advocates in New Mexico: New Mexico Organizations – National Immigration Legal Services Directory – Nonprofit Resource Center
- Higher Education for Immigrant Students – NILC
- FAFSA Hub – Presidents’ Alliance
- Scholarships:
- Scholarship Resources – MALDEF Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
- Scholarships – League of United Latin America Citizens (LULAC)
- Higher Education for Immigrant Students – NILC § TheDream.US | Scholarships for Undocumented Students
- TheDream.US | Scholarships for Undocumented Students
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Response to January 2018 Preliminary Injunction | USCIS
- The 5th Circuit Fight for DACA Is a Personal One
- Explainer: Immigrants and the Use of Public Benefit | migrationpolicy.org
- Research: Immigrants’ Eligibility for U.S. Public Benefits | migrationpolicy.org
Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) webpage.
- Download the Letter to Chief State School Officers Announcing Grant Award (04-23-2021)
- Download the ARP Homeless I-II Total Grant Award Allocations (04-23-2021)
- Download the ARP Homeless I-II Total Grant Award Allocations (revised 07-02-2021)
- Download the ARP Homeless I SEA Reservations (04-23-2021)
- Download the ARP Homeless I Grant Award Notification Assurances (04-23-2021)
- Download ARP Homeless II SEA Reservations (07-02-2021)
- Download ARP Homeless II Notice of Final Requirements (07-02-2021)
- Download Application for Funding Under the ARP-HCY: Second Disbursement (ARP Homeless II) (07-06-2021)
- View Frequently Asked ARP-HCY Questions and Answers
- View American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief
- Approved ARP-HCY State Plan (PDF)
- Approval Letter (PDF)
Visit SchoolHouse Connection for the Overview of U.S. Department of Education Guidance on American Rescue Plan Act Homeless Children and Youth Funding: https://schoolhouseconnection.org/overview-of-used-guidance-on-arp/
Subgrantees
Award Letter Homeless ARP II HCY Funds Memo
COVID Resources for Homeless Education Programs
Homeless and Housing Unstable Students: Legal Obligations and Best Practices for School Reentry
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information – National Center for Homeless Education
Transportation of Students Experiencing Homelessness
School Discipline Policies and Student Rights and Responsibilities
Partial Credit for High School Courses for Students Who Experience Disruption: Memo
Partial Credit for Adjudicated or Mobile Students (NMAC) New Mexico Administrative Code 6.30.18: Law
A School Selection Checklist for Decision Making
Written Notification of Decision Template
PED Memo-Educational Stability Guidelines for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Educational Stability Guidelines for Students Experiencing Homelessness
NM Educational Rights of Students Experiencing Homelessness Dispute Resolution Form
FAFSA
Sample Form Letters to Determine Independent Student Status of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth for the FAFSA
Updated Federal FAFSA Guidance for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth – as of July 19, 2024
Higher Education
Tips for Helping Homeless Youth Succeed in College
Scholarships | New Mexico Higher Education Department | NM Higher Education Department
SHC Scholarship Program
Best Colleges: Homeless Student Resource Guide for Higher Education
Apply for Services | Early Childhood Education & Care Department Am I Eligible?
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
Child Care Assistance | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
New Mexico PreK | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
Home Visiting | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
Families FIRST | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
Family Nutrition Bureau | Early Childhood Education & Care Department USDA Child Nutrition Programs, the Child and the Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Government-to-Government | Early Childhood Education & Care Department (Native American Tribes)
Early Head Start ECECD Head Start Collaboration Office | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
Social and Emotional Early Development (SEED) Initiative | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
Yes New Mexico – Portal to apply, check, update, or renew Food Assistance(SNAP), Medical Assistance(Medicaid), Cash Assistance(TANF) and Energy Assistance(LIHEAP): https://www.yes.state.nm.us/yesnm/home/index
Senior Food Hotline: 1-800-432-2080
Roadrunner Food Bank – Albuquerque
FNS Non-Discrimination Statement
Accessibility Assistance
Accessibility Information (ADA)
Limited English Proficiency (LEP)