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, NYS-TEACHS, by June 30, 2024, to comply with the federal training requirement.
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. 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. Please visit NYS-TEACHS website 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.
Finally, please be aware that McKinney-Vento grant funds and/or Title I, Part A funds may be used for travel-related expenses and staff replacement costs related to your attendance at one of the workshops NYS-TEACHS will offer.
Please contact Jane Fronheiser, State Homeless Program Coordinator, at Jane.Fronheiser@nysed.gov, if you have any questions regarding this memo. You may also contact New York State TEACHS at info@nysteachs.org or call the TEACHS hotline at 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
