Homeless Support Services
The Homeless Support Services program at College Station ISD provides vital assistance to students and families experiencing homelessness, in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act. This law ensures that every child has the right to an education, regardless of their living situation.
What is Homelessness?
For the purposes of this program, homeless children and youth are defined as those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes children and youth who are:
- Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, campgrounds, or similar temporary settings
- Living in emergency or transitional housing
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, or other substandard housing
Because homelessness affects families and individuals in different ways, each situation is assessed individually to ensure the appropriate support is provided.
Support Available to Homeless Students
Federal and State Programs works closely with campus staff and other departments to ensure that students experiencing homelessness receive the support they need to continue their education without interruption. Services include:
- Immediate enrollment in school, regardless of documentation or residency status
- Free school breakfast and lunch for eligible students
- Transportation to the student's original school of enrollment (If a student becomes homeless, transportation to their original school is provided at the parent’s request, if the school is two miles or more from the student’s current living situation.)
Our Commitment
We are committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their housing circumstances, have access to the resources they need to succeed in school. If your child is experiencing homelessness, please reach out to your Campus Homeless Support Liaison or our Homeless Support Services team to learn more about the assistance available.
Campus Homeless Liaisons
Every campus in College Station ISD has a designated Homeless Support Liaison.
Students and Parents Rights
Resources for Families and Students Experiencing Homelessness
McKinney-Vento FAQs
How is “homeless” defined under McKinney-Vento?
Under the McKinney-Vento Act, the term “homeless children and youths” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
What living situation is considered homeless under McKinney-Vento?
Homeless children and youth who are:
- sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds
- living in emergency or transitional shelters
- living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, or substandard housing
What are the student rights under McKinney-Vento?
- Receive a free, appropriate public education
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
- Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers important documents
- Enroll in the local school or continue attending their school of origin, if preferred
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if appropriate
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other children, according to your children’s needs
How are students and families identified within our district?
Students are identified through the Student Residency Questionnaire (SRQ) according to their living situation or circumstances. Once Federal and State Programs receive a completed SRQ, it is assessed to determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
How long are students and families eligible to receive services?
Once it is determined that a student/family meets eligibility for Homeless Support Services, they remain eligible for the remainder of the current school year. Eligibility must be reassessed every year to receive Homeless Support Services.
McKinney-Vento Transportation Support
Transportation for McKinney-Vento students is available for students who qualify. You may request transportation support when you are filling out your SRQ. If you originally did not need to use McKinney-Vento Transportation support, however, now your circumstances have changed, please contact your Campus Homeless Support Liaison to update your request.
Routing Timeline
- Once the required forms have been completed and approved, they will be directed to Transportation. It may take up to five school days for arrangements to be made, regardless of where the student is staying.
- If the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth moves, the request for transportation services will need to start over to set up a new route.
Dispute Resolution
If a parent disagrees with decisions regarding eligibility, school selection, or enrollment, please contact the Director of Federal and State Programs. The McKinney-Vento Act requires schools to enroll students immediately in the school in which they are seeking enrollment, until the dispute reaches its final resolution, including all appeals. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(E)(i). For unaccompanied youth, the liaison must ensure the youth is immediately enrolled in the school in which the youth seeks enrollment pending resolution of the dispute. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(E)(iv). Since the McKinney-Vento Act defines “enroll” to include attending classes and participating fully in school activities, students must be afforded full participation and provided all appropriate services while the dispute is pending.