Professional Development
Districts and schools can provide opportunities for professional development to strengthen access to educational stability for students experiencing homelessness. Federal law requires that homeless education liaisons ensure that schools and districts provide professional development for personnel. Homeless education liaisons can include personnel that have direct relationships with students and their families, such as:
- School counselors;
- School resource officers;
- Secretaries;
- Teachers;
- Principals and Assistant principals;
- Custodial staff;
- Bus drivers; and
- Nurses.
A trauma-responsive system can be helpful as educators support the whole child needs of students experiencing homelessness. For more information on trauma-informed practices and resources, access the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Trauma-Informed Schools webpage.
The Every Student Succeeds Act defines professional development as activities that are “sustained (not standalone, one-day, or short team workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom focused.” For more information about professional development, access the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Ohio Standards for Professional Development.
Virtual Training Opportunity: Every Student Succeeds Act —Serving Students in Foster Care and Students Experiencing Homelessness
State coordinators from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will outline the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act in this webinar. This training is open to all liaisons, as well as any staff involved in the enrollment, well-being, and academic success of students experiencing homelessness and/or students in foster care. Click the link for the preferred date and time below to register:
Friday, January 23, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Katie Barnes, ADA coordinator, at ADAaccommodation@education.ohio.gov or 614-387-7716 (voice) no later than three business days (72 hours) before the event date. Requests submitted less than 72 hours before the meeting/event may not be able to be accommodated, though DEW will make every effort to provide accommodations if possible.
Ohio Toolkit for Homeless Education Liaisons
As part of a grant-funded partnership, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) developed a toolkit to assist homeless education liaisons in meeting the needs of students experiencing homelessness. The customizable document templates and guides included below can help liaisons streamline identification, enrollment, and support processes within their school districts and coordinate access to vital resources within communities.
Common Signs of Homelessness
Community Collaboration Guide
Community Resource Template
Data Meeting Template
Family/Student Needs Checklist
Guided Interview for Students
McKinney-Vento Brochure
McKinney-Vento Poster Tracker
McKinney-Vento Web Communication Guide
New Liaison Checklist
Professional Development Tracker
Social Media Guide
Statewide Collaboration and Communication
Transitions to Adulthood Checklist
Transportation Plan
Trauma-Informed Guide
Unaccompanied Youth Checklist
Unaccompanied Youth Rights Flyer
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Additional Resources
Below are state and national resources that can provide opportunities for professional development, often at no cost, to districts and schools:
Ohio Resources
National Resources
Last Modified: 12/17/2025 8:23:32 AM