Dear colleagues:

NCHE is pleased to release the following updated homeless education issue briefs:

Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness Who Have Disabilities: Federal Provisions to Increase Access and Success

This brief will review the educational rights of children and youth guaranteed in the McKinney-Vento Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and provide information to improve the educational access and success of students experiencing homelessness who have disabilities.

Domestic Violence, Homelessness, and Education Services

The brief will highlight the role of school and school districts in supporting students who are experiencing homelessness and impacted by domestic violence; summarize relevant parts of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); and recommend collaborative practices for educators and service providers to support adults, children, and youth who are experiencing homelessness and impacted by domestic violence.

Access to Food for Students Experiencing Homelessness

This brief provides an overview of hunger and its impact on children and youth experiencing homelessness; explains the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child Nutrition Division (CND) policies regarding eligibility for free school meals for students experiencing homelessness, including runaway students; and offers strategies to ensure that students experiencing homelessness can access food both inside and outside of school.

These and other NCHE issues briefs are available for downloading at https://nche.ed.gov/resources/. Look for the highlighted *updated* text to indicate recently updated briefs. Please feel free to share this information with interested colleagues and networks.

Best, 

Jacinda Goodwin