The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Homeless Education Program (HEP) provides assistance to school districts and charter schools as they serve and support their students experiencing homelessness.
LACOE HEP works to help districts and charter schools maintain compliance with the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act, an integral part of the Every Student Succeeds Act. LACOE HEP is focused on ensuring that students experiencing homelessness are enrolled, attending school and thriving during their academic experience.
If you have any questions or need further assistance from LACOE's County Homeless Liaison, contact Dr. Jennifer Kottke with the Homeless Education Program at (562) 922-6247 or email us at HomelessEd@lacoe.edu.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR MCKINNEY-VENTO?
Any child or youth who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence including those who:
- are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship;
- are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
- are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;
- have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
- are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
- Those identified by the Migrant Education Program (as defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualify as homeless because the children are living in circumstances described in the bullet points above
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Your child(ren) may have the right to:
- Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended (school of origin) or the local school where you are currently staying, even if you do not have all the required documents at the time of enrollment.
- Continue to attend their school of origin, if requested by you and it is in the best interest.
- Receive transportation to and from their school of origin, the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children, including free meals and Title I.
- Receive the full protections and services provided under all federal and state laws relating to homeless children, youth and their families.
RESOURCES
Ed Buzz: Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
HOMELESS EDUCATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (HETAC)
- Training and Educational Videos (Canvas LMS) (YouTube)
- Training Series Courses
LIAISONS
- Local Educational Agency Housing Questionnaire - CA Dept of Education
- 2023-2024 LACOE Liaison Contact List.pdf
- LACOE CWA OMS Event Registration
Guides
- Liaison Responsibilities
- Identification of Homeless Children and Youth
- Transportation to School of Origin
- Meeting the Educational Needs of Homeless Students 6.4.24
- Homeless Youth vs. Foster Youth
- EHCY Letter Title I Part A General
- EHCY Program Non-Regulatory Guidance
- Complete Dispute Process Information Forms-Sample
Posters
- LACOE Brochure - Educational Rights (English) (Spanish)
- "You Can Enroll in School in School" Poster (English) (Spanish) (Multilingual)
Other
UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH
- SHC Unacommpanied Youth Q&A
- Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Students Experiencing Homelessness
- FAFSA- Who Can Make a Determination 2017
- Unaccompanied Youth Independent Status for FAFSA Template
- Resources for Higher Education-Financial Aid
- Health Coverage for Homeless and At-Risk Youth
- MediCal Rights for Unaccompanied Youth
- HETAC - Higher Education Resources
TRAUMA
Guides & Tips
- Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators
- Tips for Teachers
- Jody McVittie Handouts
- ECHO trauma informed Support for children
- Trauma Resources for Young Children
- A Guide to Understanding and Coping with Compassion Fatigue
- The ChildTrauma Academy
- Sesame Workshop - Traumatic Experiences
- Calm 30 days of Mindfulness in the Classroom Guide
Literature
- Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom
- Helping Traumatized Children Learn
Self-Care Resources
DATA AND RESEARCH
LACOE HEP Reports
- 2023-24 Annual Impact Report
- 2024 Needs Assessment Report
- 2023-24 HCY Served in LA County
- 2023-24 Countywide Homeless Youth Key Insights
- 2024 LACOE CHKS Report
Other Reports & Article Highlights
- 2025 State Coordinator Survey Key Findings
- Infant & Toddler Homelessness Across 50 States: 2022-2023
- California schools see 9% surge in homeless students as funds decrease
- California school enrollment continues to drop as poor and homeless student numbers rise
- A Policy Agenda for Highly Mobile Youth
Additional
- All Things Homeless Data Padlet is a centralized hub of resources, tools, and updates to support the use and understanding of homeless student data.
- DataQuest provides meaningful data and statistics about California's TK/K-12 public educational system
- CA School Dashboard provides parents and educators with meaningful information on school and district progress so they can participate in decisions to improve student learning.
LACOE’s Homeless Education Program helps students experiencing homelessness shine by connecting them with the academic support they deserve. Our county-wide Doubled-Up Tutoring Program pairs students with trusted tutors from verified vendors for one-on-one help in math and English. Each session is designed to build confidence, spark engagement, and strengthen academic skills, one tutoring session at a time!
Tutoring Referral Window:
August 4 – November 14, 2025
Referrals will be accepted based on academic need and tutor availability. Students may be waitlisted if demand exceeds capacity. Thank you for supporting students experiencing homelessness.
This tutoring program is designed to support K-12 doubled-up students who are living with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
To qualify, students must:
- Be enrolled in grades K–12
- Reside in Los Angeles County
- Currently doubled-up under the McKinney-Vento definition
- Have an identified academic need
Priority will be given to high school students, especially those in grades 11 and 12.
Please note: We are not currently accepting students from LAUSD.
- Students may be eligible for up to 20 hours of one-on-one tutoring
- Tutoring is available in-person or virtually
- Adult supervision is required during all tutoring sessions
- Due to limited funding, referrals are prioritized based on academic need
- Students in grades 11 and 12 will be prioritized
- Higher-level course tutoring (e.g., AP, honors, advanced math/science) requires proof of coursework
Please email documentation to esquivel_melissa@lacoe.edu at the time of referral submission.
- Referrals must be submitted by an authorized school, district, or agency representative
Please confirm that the student and caregiver agree to participate in tutoring - Check for existing school-based tutoring before submitting
- Do not refer students who are already receiving tutoring from another program
Have the following ready before submitting a referral:
- Student’s full name, birthdate, grade and current school
- Confirmation of McKinney-Vento doubled-up status
- Parent or Guardian contact information (if applicable)
- Student's SSID (Statewide Student Identifier), if available
- Academic subject(s) or area of concern: Math, English Language Arts or other identified academic needs
Tutoring Referral Window:
August 4 – November 14, 2025
Referrals will be accepted based on academic need and tutor availability. Students may be waitlisted if demand exceeds capacity. Thank you for supporting students experiencing homelessness.
