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.
Let Me Add to That Podcast: Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
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
- 2025-2026 Homeless 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)
- To request printed posters or brochures, please email Salgado_Maricela@lacoe.edu
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
- 2024-25 HCY Served in LA County
- 2024-25 Countywide K-12 Homeless Youth Key Insights
- 2025 LACOE HEP Annual Report Brief
- 2024-25 LACOE CHKS Summary Report
- 2024-25 LACOE CES Report
- 2023-24 Annual Report Brief
- 2023-24 Needs Assessment Report
- 2023-24 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.
Academic Tutoring for Students Experiencing Homelessness
The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Homeless Education Program (HEP) connects students experiencing homelessness, particularly those who are doubled-up due to loss of housing or economic hardship, with free academic tutoring services.
Through the County-wide Doubled-Up Tutoring Program, eligible students are matched with LACOE-approved tutoring providers for personalized one-on-one academic support. Tutoring is available in a variety of subjects and is designed to strengthen academic skills, build confidence and support student success.
Tutoring Referral Window:
Tutoring services for the 2026–27 academic year are anticipated to begin in August 2026. The referral window and program start date will be announced soon.
Students may qualify for tutoring if they:
- Are enrolled in grades K–12
- Reside in Los Angeles County
- Are currently in a doubled-up or tripled-up housing situation, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (living with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship)
- Have an identified academic need
Priority consideration will be given to high school students, particularly those in grades 11 and 12.
- One-on-one academic tutoring
- Up to 20 hours of tutoring per eligible student
- Available in-person or virtually (based on availability)
- Tutoring available in a variety of academic subjects based on student need
- Services provided by LACOE-approved tutoring providers
- Language preferences considered when matching tutors, based on availability
- Students complete pre- and post-assessments to measure academic growth
- Adult supervision is required during all tutoring sessions
- Priority consideration is given to students in grades 11 and 12
- Due to limited funding, referrals are prioritized based on academic need
Please have the following information available before submitting a referral:
- Student information (name, date of birth, grade level, and school)
- Parent/guardian contact information
- Academic support needs
- Student housing information to verify eligibility under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
School District & Charter School Referrals: Be prepared to provide documentation verifying the student's doubled-up housing status, such as:
- Student Information System housing verification (e.g., Aeries screenshot)
- Student Housing Questionnaire (SHQ)
Instructions for submitting supporting documentation will be provided after the referral is received.
Requests for advanced coursework (e.g., AP, honors, advanced math/science) require proof of enrollment prior to tutoring services.
Choose the referral option that best matches who is submitting the request.
Option 1: School District & Charter School Referral
Who should use this?
- District Homeless Liaisons
- School counselors, social workers and other designated school staff from non-LAUSD school districts and charter schools
Option 2: Parent/Guardian Self-Referral
Who should use this?
- Parents or guardians of eligible students, including families with students enrolled in LAUSD
Parents or guardians may submit a referral if they believe their child is living in a doubled-up or tripled-up housing situation and would benefit from academic tutoring.
Melissa Esquivel
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Homeless Education Program
Esquivel_Melissa@lacoe.edu
