Back-to-School Toolkit: Resources for Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!
Back-to-school is an important time for schools and students.
For schools serving students experiencing homelessness, it's a key time to
- ensure that students experiencing homelessness are identified;
- ensure that students experiencing homelessness are enrolled in school immediately;
- ensure that students experiencing homelessness, unaccompanied youth, and parents/guardians/caregivers are aware of the school- and community-based resources available to support the student's education and address their basic needs; and
- equip school staff with the knowledge and resources they need to support students experiencing homelessness well.
This California Homeless Education Technical Assistance Center (HETAC) back-to-school toolkit offers essential resources to help with identification, enrollment, awareness, and staff training and capacity building.
Jump to these resources:
Student Identification
- HETAC | Identifying Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness webpage
This HETAC webpage links to a variety of informational and practical resources related to identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness.
- California Department of Education (CDE) | Model Housing Questionnaire and Related Resources
Under California Education Code § 48851, LEAs must administer a housing questionnaire to all students annually to ensure the identification of children and youth experiencing homelessness. These CDE resources include a model housing questionnaire for use in California LEAs, guidance for completing the questionnaire, and a frequently asked questions (FAQ) resource.
Student Enrollment
- HETAC | Prompt and Proper Placement: Enrolling Students Experiencing Homelessness without Records
This HETAC tip sheet outlines McKinney-Vento Act requirements related to immediate enrollment and school records for students experiencing homelessness, and suggests strategies to help LEAs develop a streamlined approach to initial student assessment when complete school records are not present.
- California Courts | Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit
This California Courts affidavit may be used to authorize school enrollment and school-related medical care for a minor.
(Note: This affidavit may be used as a tool to facilitate the immediate enrollment of unaccompanied youth, but may not be required as a condition for school enrollment for youth who don't have a person who is willing and able to fulfill the caregiver role.)
- CALPADS Update Flash #325 | Business Rule Change to Homeless Program Records
This June 2026 CALPADS flash summarizes a new data business rule requiring all student homeless program records to be closed at the end of each school year and reopened annually based on mandated housing questionnaire (HQ) use. Per the flash, new CALPADS validations will ensure the consistent implementation of these changes. CALPADS also will update homeless dwelling type options to better align with the HQ. The flash underscores the importance of LEA and COE homeless liaisons having access to CALPADS' detailed, student-level report (Report 5.5 - Homeless Students Enrolled - Student List) to ensure accurate reporting.
- National Center for Homeless Education: Enrolling Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness webpage
This National Center for Homeless Education webpage provides informational and practical resources on enrolling students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
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SchoolHouse Connection: Removing Barriers to Online Enrollment for Students Experiencing Homelessness webpage
The McKinney-Vento Act requires state and local educational agencies to remove barriers to the school enrollment of children and youth experiencing homelessness. This SchoolHouse Connection webpage recommends strategies for ensuring that online enrollment processes are accessible for youth and families experiencing homelessness.
Staff and Parent Awareness
- NCHE | Supporting the Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness brochure
This NCHE brochure explains who is considered homeless under federal education law, the educational rights available to students experiencing homelessness, and supports available from NCHE.
- NCHE | What You Need to Help Your Child in School booklet
This NCHE booklet explains who is considered homeless under federal education law, the educational rights available to students experiencing homelessness, things parents or caregivers can do to support their children's education, and supports available from NCHE.
- SchoolHouse Connection | Awareness and Training Resources
This SchoolHouse Connection webpage provides free resources for training school personnel and community partners about key homeless education topics, including identification and enrollment. Resources include customizable flyers, infographics, and training presentation templates.
Staff Training and capacity building
- HETAC | A Guide to the Homeless Liaison Role in California: Legal Guidelines and Implementation Strategies
This HETAC resource outlines the responsibilities of LEA homeless liaisons and LEAs under federal and California state law, highlights additional responsibilities specific to the role of the county office of education (COE) liaison, and recommends strategies for implementing these responsibilities effectively.
- SchoolHouse Connection | Awareness and Training Resources
This SchoolHouse Connection webpage provides free resources for training school personnel and community partners about key homeless education topics, including identification and enrollment. Resources include customizable flyers, infographics, and training presentation templates.
- SchoolHouse Connection | School Year 2025-2026 McKinney-Vento Calendar of Events
This SchoolHouse Connection sample calendar serves as a starting point for LEA homeless liaisons to organize the planning and implementation of activities related to McKinney-Vento Act requirements related to identifying and serving students experiencing homelessness, training LEA and school staff, collecting and reporting homeless education data, and more.
Sample County Office of Education (COE) and Local Educational Agency (LEA) Resources
- Kings COE (KCOE) McKinney-Vento Quick Tip Sheets
These KCOE quick tip sheets provide role-specific information about identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness and connecting them with educational supports in a trauma-informed way.
McKinney-Vento Quick Tip Sheet: School and District Leadership
McKinney-Vento Quick Tip Sheet: School Secretaries and Enrollment Personnel
McKinney-Vento Quick Tip Sheet: Social Workers and Guidance Counselors
McKinney-Vento Quick Tip Sheet: Teachers
- San Diego COE (SDCOE) Homeless Education Services Program | Back-to-School Checklist
This SDCOE resource lists key activities for COE and LEA liaisons to complete in support of students experiencing homelessness as part of back-to-school.
- San Diego COE (SDCOE) Homeless Education Services Program | Annual Planning Calendar
This SDCOE annual planning calendar shares recommended areas of focus and activities for LEA homeless liaisons for each month of the school year. The sample calendar can be used as a starting place for other COEs and/or LEAs and adjusted, as needed.