Training for McKinney-Vento Liaisons

The McKinney-Vento Act requires State Coordinators to provide professional development opportunities for LEA personnel and the LEA liaison to assist them in identifying and meeting the needs of homeless children and youths, and to provide training on the definitions of terms related to homelessness. [42 U.S.C. § 11432(f)(6)] - Title 42 of the U.S. Code

In addition, the law requires States to adopt policies and practices to ensure participation by liaisons in professional development and other technical assistance activities. Based on this guidance, as determined appropriate by the Office of the State Homeless Education Program Coordinator, McKinney-Vento Liaison(s) in the State of Arizona will meet the required minimum of eight professional learning hours each school year to ensure that the McKinney-Vento requirements and best practices are current. [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(J)(iv)] - Title 42 of the U.S. Code

Our office has received many questions related to training offered from our office, as well as what is required to receive verification of participation. Please view this guidance document “Guidance on Attending ADE HEP Professional Learning” for information regarding training.

 

Professional Learning from ADE's Office of the Coordinator

Please note the following before you register:

Which session should I attend?

To better support the variety of LEAs in Arizona, we are offering separate sessions for charter districts and general audiences. While the content and requirements discussed will be the same for each context, by offering separate sessions we hope to provide a space for common examples, situations, and questions that are relevant to each context. McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons are welcome to join either session, however we encourage you to join the session that best matches your LEA.

How do I attend?

We are excited to host these sessions on the new ADE Professional Learning & Development (APLD) platform!

For information about how to create and access your account, please visit the APLD information webpage. Additionally, you may reference the “Guidance on Attending ADE HEP Professional Learning” for details on how to register for training and certification details.

 

November 2023

Frequently Asked Questions: Office Hours for Discussion and Collaboration

This two-hour long session will provide McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons and support personnel with a brief description of requirements followed by an opportunity to ask questions and discuss solutions related to the following frequently requested topics: 

  • Transportation
  • Forms and Guidance Documents
  • Internal Data Tracking Procedures
  • Eligibility Determination Scenarios

 

Session 1 – Charter District Context

Session 2 – General Audience

 

December 2023

Eligibility Determinations, Best Interest Determinations (BIDs), Managing Disputes, & Providing Written Notification – Mandatory Compliance Training

This hour-long professional learning session and following Q&A Office Hour will inform McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons of requirements related to making eligibility determinations, conducting Best Interest Determinations (BIDs), managing disputes, and ensuring that written notification is provided.

 

Session 1 – Charter District Context

Session 2 – General Audience

  • Thursday, December 14th from 10-11am
  • Optional Office Hour: 11am – 12pm
  • APLD Course ID#9466
  • APLD Registration Link

 

January 2024

The ADE HEP team is currently planning the session for this month. Topic, dates, and times are coming soon!

 

February 2024

The ADE HEP team is currently planning the session for this month. Topic, dates, and times are coming soon!

 

March 2024

The ADE HEP team is currently planning the session for this month. Topic, dates, and times are coming soon!

 

April 2024

The ADE HEP team is currently planning the session for this month. Topic, dates, and times are coming soon!

 

May 2024

The ADE HEP team is currently planning the session for this month. Topic, dates, and times are coming soon!

Transportation for Students Experiencing Homelessness – Mandatory Compliance Training, October 2023

This hour-long professional learning session and following Q&A Office Hour will inform McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons of requirements and best-practices to provide students experiencing homelessness with transportation to their school of origin. We are excited to partner with Jason Nelson, Transportation Program Manager with Arizona School Risk Retention Trust, Inc. for this session. With over 13 years in the transportation industry, Jason has driven a bus, held positions of dispatch and routing, and supervised a transportation department of more than 100 employees. He demonstrates his passion for pupil transportation, having served as a board member for the Arizona Association of Pupil Transportation (AAPT) and the Transportation Administrators of Arizona (TAA) presidency. Jason has a "can-do" attitude and is passionate about enhancing school bus transportation in the state of Arizona.

Session Materials:

 

Awareness and District Professional Development – Mandatory Compliance Training, September 2023

This hour-long professional learning session and following Q&A Office Hour will inform McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons of their requirements to ensure student, parent/guardian, and community awareness of the McKinney-Vento Act as well as provide professional development for all district and school personnel.

Session Materials:

 

McKinney-Vento in Practice - Mandatory Compliance Training, August 2023

This professional learning session will prepare district and site McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaisons and other personnel responsible for identifying, enrolling, and servicing students experiencing homelessness, to ensure compliance with the federal statutory requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

This session will cover the following topics:

  • a quick and comprehensive overview of the Homeless Education Program (HEP);
  • an overview of programmatic requirements to ensure compliance with federal statute; and
  • required tools to equip and empower designated program personnel.

Session Materials:

McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Training - End-of-Year Process, May 2023

Learn best practices to properly notify parents, guardians, caregivers, and students of McKinney-Vento eligibility end dates for the current school year. Review end-of-year data reporting requirements to ensure your LEA/Charter is in compliance.

 

McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Training - Determining Eligibility, Written Notification, & Dispute Resolution Process, April 2023

Learn tips to guide your conversation to make McKinney-Vento eligibility determinations.  Incorporate best practice principles for proper notification of the decision, including the Dispute Resolution process.

 

McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Training - Attendance & Transportation Best Practice, March 2023

Learn best practices and strategies to address chronic attendance issues with homeless children and youth. Attendance often impacts transportation services; learn how to develop communication strategies to increase consistent usage of transportation and increase attendance overall.

 

Awareness, Identification, District Training  and How It’s all Tied to Data, February 2023

Topics that will be covered in this training include the identification, awareness and district training strategies that can be implemented at your LEA. We will also demonstrate how these processes are critical to data collection.

 

FY24 Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Competitive Grant Application - What to Expect and How to Apply, February 2023

In this session, we will provide a project overview of the FY24 EHCY Competitive Grant by detailing eligibility requirements, joining a consortium, allowable uses of funds, how to apply, and what to expect when applying. LEAs will leave prepared to develop and apply for a data-centered program to address the unique needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness. McKinney-Vento Liaisons are strongly encouraged to attend, along with any LEA staff that make programmatic and funding decisions related to homeless children and youth attend, such as Federal Grants Coordinators, Title I Directors, etc.

 

FY24 EHCY Grant Application Webinar for Consortia, February 2023

This webinar will cover the details and requirements when forming and applying for the FY24 EHCY grant as consortia.

 

Mandatory McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Training, January 2023

The McKinney-Vento Act requires State Coordinators to provide professional development opportunities for LEA personnel and the LEA liaison to assist them in identifying and meeting the needs of homeless children and youths, and to provide training on the definitions of terms related to homelessness. If you are the McKinney-Vento Liasion of record, or a building level Homeless Liasion, or given the authority or responsibility of making McKinney-Vento eligibility determinations you must satisfy the minimum professional learning requirement. Read more here, Guidance for attending Professional Learning Provided by ADE's Homeless Education Program.

 

Additional Resources

The Arizona Department of Education’s Office of Homeless, Foster Care, and Refugee Education Programs is excited to announce a webinar designed specifically for education leaders. This four-hour professional learning opportunity will prepare district and site leaders in developing and enhancing essential programs for students experiencing homelessness and those placed in foster care.

This collaborative session will cover the following topics:

  • a quick and comprehensive overview of the Homeless Education Program (HEP) and Foster Care Education Program (FCEP);
  • an overview of programmatic requirements to ensure compliance with federal statute;
  • required tools to equip and empower designated program personnel; and
  • an opportunity to reflect on current programs to further develop robust HEP and FCEP at your LEA, Charter District, or school site.

Webinar Materials