Office of Accountability - Albany Office
Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), McKinney-Vento liaisons are required to participate in professional development so they can better identify and meet the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness (42 U.S.C. §§ 11432[f][6] & [g][6][A][ix]). The New York State Education Department (NYSED or “the Department”) requires that the McKinney-Vento liaison from each local educational agency (LEA) attend at least one of the professional development sessions offered by the Department’s technical assistance center, New York State -Technical and Educational Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYS-TEACHS), by June 30, 2025, to comply with the federal training requirement.
NYS-TEACHS provides free trainings and webinars for LEAs, social service providers, and other professionals about the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness. While attendance at one session is required, we encourage liaisons to attend several sessions over the course of the school year to continually advance their knowledge and skills. McKinney-Vento grant funds and/or Title I, Part A funds may be used for travel-related expenses and staff replacement costs related to attendance at one of the workshops NYS-TEACHS will offer. Please visit NYS-TEACHS for additional information, professional development sessions, presentations, on-site trainings, and webinars on Homeless Education topics.
McKinney-Vento liaisons are also responsible for ensuring that LEA personnel providing McKinney-Vento services (e.g., Superintendents, registrars, transportation directors, CSE chairs, school counselors, school social workers, principals, school attorneys, and Title I directors, teachers) receive professional development. Liaisons can do this by either providing the training to staff themselves or by ensuring that LEA staff participate in one of the trainings offered by NYS-TEACHS. A complete list of McKinney-Vento liaison responsibilities can be found within the "Sample Local Educational Agency Policy on the Education of Students in Temporary Housing."
Questions regarding this information can be directed to the State Homeless Program Coordinator Jane Fronheiser at Jane.Fronheiser@nysed.gov or NYS - TEACHS at info@nysteachs.org or by calling 1-800-388-2014, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thank you in advance for your support and participation.
cc: Alexandra Pressley
Jane Fronheiser
Cassandra Vaughan
