Supporting Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
The McKinney-Vento Act ensures all children, including preschoolers, have equal access to free and appropriate public education. In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) amended the McKinney-Vento Act to include preschools in the definition of school of origin (the school the student attended when permanently housed, or the last school in which the student was enrolled and attending).
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) offering public preschool, including Head Start and Early Head Start, must adhere to McKinney-Vento requirements and allow young children to remain in their preschool of origin if doing so is in their best interest. LEAs should assume remaining enrolled in the preschool of origin is in the child’s best interest unless the parent or guardian requests otherwise.
Definition of Preschool
Preschools include early childhood programs publicly funded and overseen by LEAs, including:
Access this flow chart from SchoolHouse Connection for more guidance about the definition of preschool under McKinney-Vento.
Eligibility
State laws and local policies typically define preschool eligibility, but young children experiencing homelessness are automatically eligible for Title I preschool, Early Head Start, and Head Start programs. LEAs must enroll these children immediately, even if an enrollment deadline has passed or if they do not have access to typically required documents. Programs are encouraged to hold slots for late enrollees.
Children qualify for Early Head Start and Head Start based on their homeless status, not family income. This includes families living in hotels, motels, or in doubled-up situations. Families can prove eligibility with a written statement from a homeless services provider, school personnel, or other agencies, as well as documentation indicating homelessness, such as agency records or enrollment forms.
For more information, access the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s webpage about Identification, Eligibility, and Enrollment.
Responsibilities of Those Serving Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Homeless Education Liaison responsibilities:
- Collaborate with shelters, social services, and early childhood providers to identify young children experiencing homelessness.
- Inform families about available educational opportunities, assist with enrollment, and connect them to programs with open slots, including Head Start and Early Head Start.
- Provide documentation of homeless status, assist with immunization records, and help complete applications.
- Share data about families experiencing homelessness with local Head Start programs to support community needs assessments and selection criteria.
School and District Responsibilities:
Transportation
Young children experiencing homelessness have the right to transportation to their preschool of origin, and LEAs can use Title I funds to cover these costs. LEAs must provide transportation if it is in the child's best interest to remain in the preschool of origin, even if the LEA does not offer transportation for other preschoolers. Access the Department’s page about Transportation Supports for Students Experiencing Homelessness for more information.
Educational Support for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
According to research compiled by the University of Toledo, children experience rapid brain development from birth to age five that can play a part in shaping their future thought processes and emotions. Experiencing homelessness can disrupt this process, often leading to behavioral issues, sleep problems, social-emotional challenges, and developmental delays that can affect academic success. Early literacy experiences, combined with housing support, can help to build a foundation for academic success, well-being, and family stability.
With 1 in 27 children in the state and 2.6% nationally experiencing homelessness, access to early learning opportunities and housing support is crucial. In response to this need, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the University of Toledo collaborated through a grant-funded initiative to develop two resources aimed at fostering early literacy and academic growth for young children experiencing homelessness: a toolkit for early care and education professionals and family play kits.
Toolkit for Early Care and Education Professionals
This toolkit features an overview of current research on the effects of homelessness on development and professional development resources. The toolkit also includes customizable templates and guides to help professionals working in local childcare sites and agencies share information about available resources with families.
Access the toolkit and individual resource templates below:
Family Play Kits
Family play kits are designed to provide professionals with ideas for assembling customized literacy resources they can share with families in their community. These kits support early literacy development at home and encourage families to engage in activities beyond shared reading.
The resources in the kits include curated book lists for families to explore at local libraries, printable cards with tips for engaging young children in book discussions, literacy-building activities that promote play and imagination, and links to additional resources for families experiencing homelessness.
Access example family play kits below:
Family Play Kit Item Lists
Family Play Kit Instruction Cards (All Kits)
Family Play Kit Instruction Cards (Kit Specific)
Additional Resources
Last Modified: 2/3/2026 9:56:57 AM