National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

Educational Resources

NAEHCY Educational Resources

The Most Frequently Asked Questions on the Education Rights of Children and Youth in Homeless Situations – Updated October 16, 2017

Refreshed and revised, this publication covers a wide spectrum of education issues concerning homeless children and youth, from child care and early education services to higher education policies. It includes questions and answers that clarify recent amendments made by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the U.S. Department of Education’s Non-Regulatory Guidance, Head Start Performance Standards, and the U.S. Department of Education’s financial aid policies. A detailed index has also been added.

Contact information for your State Coordinator for Homeless Education and the appropriate local liaisons can be found here.

State Homeless Education Contact Directory

Kristen Dial State Homeless Coordinator
Alabama Department of Education
5348 Gordon Persons Bldg. PO Box 302101
Montgomery, Alabama, 36130-2101 US
Telephone: (334) 694-4529
Fax: (334) 694-4529
AL Liaison Directory
Cecilia Miller State Coordinator, Education of Homeless Children and Youth
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
801 West 10th St Suite 200, PO Box 110500
Juneau, Alaska, 99811-0500 US
Telephone: (907) 465-8703
Fax: (907) 465-8703
AK Liaison Directory
Silvia Chavez McKinney-Vento Coordinator / State Coordinator of Homeless Education
Arizona Department of Education
1535 W. Jefferson St. BIN #14
Phoenix, Arizona, 85007 US
Telephone: (602) 542-4693
Fax: (602) 542-4693
AZ Liaison Directory
Dana Davis Public School Program Advisor / Homeless Education
Arkansas Department of Education
Four Capitol Mall, Slot #26
Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201 US
Telephone: (501) 683-5428
Fax: (501) 683-5428
AR Liaison Directory
Leanne Wheeler School Turnaround Office
Coordinated School Health and Safety Office Coordinated Student Support Division / California Department of Education
1430 N. Street, 6th Floor, Suite 6208
Sacramento, California, 95814 US
Telephone: (916) 319-0383
Fax: (916) 319-0383
CA Liaison Directory
Kerry Wrenick State Coordinator
Education of Homeless Children and Youth Colorado Department of Education
201 E. Colfax Avenue, Room 306
Denver, Colorado, 80203-1799 US
Telephone: (303) 866-6930
Fax: (303) 866-6930
CO Liaison Directory
Louis Tallarita Education Consultant
Office of Student Supports & Org. Effectiveness / State Department of Education
25 Industrial Park Road
Middletown, Connecticut, 06457 US
Telephone: (860) 807-2058
Fax: (860) 807-2058
CT Liaison Directory
John Hulse Education Associate
Delaware Department of Education
35 Commerce Way, Suite 1
Dover, Delaware, 19901-3639 US
Telephone: (302) 735-4100
Fax: (302) 735-4100
DE Liaison Directory
Skip Forsyth Director, Florida Homeless Education Program / Bureau of Federal Educational Programs
Florida Department of Education
325 West Gaines, Suite 301-C
Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-0089 US
Telephone: (850) 245-0089
Fax: (850) 245-0089
FL Liaison Directory
Eric McGhee Grants Program Manager
Georgia Department of Education / Outreach Division of School Improvement
205 Jesse Hill, Jr. Drive SE, Twin Towers East Suite 1854
Atlanta, Georgia, 30334 US
Telephone: (404) 651-7555
Fax: (404) 651-7555
GA Liaison Directory
Toby Portner State Coordinator
Education for Homeless Children and Youth Office of Curriculum Instruction and Student Support, Department of Education
475 22nd Avenue Room 126
Honolulu, Hawaii, 96816 US
Telephone: (808) 305-9868
Fax: (808) 305-9868
HI Liaison Directory
Suzanne Peck State Coordinator
Idaho Department of Education
PO Box 83720, 650 W. State Street
Boise, Idaho, 83720-0027 US
Telephone: (208) 332-6978
Fax: (208) 332-6978
ID Liaison Directory
Vicki Hodges State Coordinator for McKinney-Vento Homeless Education
Illinois State Board of Education, Office of the General Counsel
100 N. First St. 2000 S-493
Springfield, Illinois, 62777 US
Telephone: (217) 782-8535
Fax: (217) 782-8535
IL Liaison Directory
Gina Woodward Homeless Education Specialist
Indiana Department of Education
115 West Washington Street, Suite 600
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204 US
Telephone: (317) 232-9189
Fax: (317) 232-9189
IN Liaison Directory
Carolyn Cobb Title I Consultant, State Homeless Coordinator
Bureau of School Improvement, Iowa Department of Education / Grimes State Office Building
400 E. 14th Street
Des Moines, Iowa, 50319-0146 US
Telephone: (515) 402-2736
Fax: (515) 402-2736
IA Liaison Directory
Maureen Ruhlman Education Program Consultant
Kansas State Department of Education
900 SW Jackson St. Suite 620
Topeka, KS 66612, Kansas, 66612 US
Telephone: (785) 296-1101
Fax: (785) 296-1101
KS Liaison Directory
Melissa Ferrell Homeless Program Consultant
Kentucky Department of Education
200 Sower Blvd., 5th Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601 US
Telephone: (502) 564-1473 ext 4020
Fax: (502) 564-1473 ext 4020
KY Liaison Directory
Dr. Antiqua Hunter Education Program Consultant
Louisiana Department of Education
1201 North Third Street
PO Box 94064, Louisiana, 94064 US
Telephone: (225) 219-0205
Fax: (225) 219-0205
LA Liaison Directory
Gayle Erdheim Homeless Education Coordinator
Maine Department of Education
#23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine, 04333-0023 US
Telephone: (207) 624-6600
Fax: (207) 624-6600
ME Liaison Directory
Valerie Ashton-Thomas Coordinator
Program Improvement and Family Support Branch, Division of Student, Family, and School Support, Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201-2595 US
Telephone: (410) 767-0314
Fax: (410) 767-0314
MD Liaison Directory
Sarah Slautterback Homeless Education State Coordinator
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, Massachusetts, 02148 US
Telephone: (781) 338-6330
Fax: (781) 338-6330
MA Liaison Directory
Michelle Williams State Coordinator for Homeless Education Programs
Michigan Department of Education / Office of Field Services, Special Pop. Unit
600 W. Allegan Street, PO Box 30008
Lansing, Michigan, 48909 US
Telephone: (517) 241-6974
Fax: (517) 241-6974
MI Liaison Directory
Roberto Reyes Homeless Education Specialist / Division of Student Support
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, Minnesota, 55113-4266 US
Telephone: (651) 582-8302
Fax: (651) 582-8302
MN Liaison Directory
LeDewayne Harris Homeless Education State Coordinator
Office of Federal Programs, Mississippi Department of Education
359 N. West Street, Suite 111, PO Box 771
Jackson, Mississippi, 39205-0771 US
Telephone: (601) 359-3499
Fax: (601) 359-3499
MS Liaison Directory
Cheryl Komatka State Coordinator
Homeless Education Program / Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education
P.O. Box 480
Jefferson City, Missouri, 65102 US
Telephone: (573) 522-8763
Fax: (573) 522-8763
MO Liaison Directory
Heather Denny State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Montana Office of Public Instruction / Division of Educational Opportunity & Equity
PO Box 202501
Helena, Montana, 59620-2501 US
Telephone: (406) 444-2036
Fax: (406) 444-2036
MT Liaison Directory
Cathy Mohnike State Homeless Education Coordinator
Federal Programs / Nebraska Department of Education
301 Centennial Mall South, PO Box 94987
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68509-4987 US
Telephone: (402) 471-1419
Fax: (402) 471-1419
NE Liaison Directory
Gabrielle Lamarre Interim State Coordinator for Education for Homeless Children
Director I, Title Programs and Federal Liaison, Nevada Department of Education
700 E. Fifth Street Suite 210
Carson City, Nevada, 89119 US
Telephone: (775) 668-4309
Fax: (775) 668-4309
NV Liaison Directory
Katherine Adams, CAGS, M.Ed. Education Consultant
State Coordinator for Homeless Education Bureau of Instructional Support New Hampshire Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, New Hampshire, 03301 US
Telephone: (603) 271-3838
Fax: (603) 271-3838
NH Liaison Directory
Phoebie Thomas State Coordinator
McKinney-Vento / Migrant Education Program, NJ Department of Education
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, New Jersey, 08625-0500 US
Telephone: (609) 376-3515
Fax: (609) 376-3515
NJ Liaison Directory
Dana Malone McKinney-Vento Homeless Education State Coordinator
New Mexico Public Education Department / Coordinated School Health and Wellness Bureau
120 South Federal Place, Room 206
Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501 US
Telephone: (505) 827-1464
Fax: (505) 827-1464
NM Liaison Directory
Melanie Faby Program Associate
New York State Education Department / Title I & Community Services Office
EBA-Room 368
Albany, New York, 12234 US
Telephone: (518) 473-0295
Fax: (518) 473-0295
NY Liaison Directory
Lisa Phillips State Coordinator Homeless Education
SERVE Center at UNCG
5900 Summit Avenue Dixon Building
Browns Summit, North Carolina, 27214 US
Telephone: (336) 315-7491
Fax: (336) 315-7491
NC Liaison Directory
Beth Larson-Steckler Program Administrator
Division of Student Support and Innovation / Department of Public Instruction
475 22nd Avenue, Room 126
Bismarck, North Dakota, 58505-0440 US
Telephone: (701) 328-3544
Fax: (701) 328-3544
ND Liaison Directory
Susannah Wayland Homeless Coordinator
Office of Federal Programs
25 S. Front St.
Columbus, Ohio, 43215-4183 US
Telephone: (614) 387-7725
Fax: (614) 387-7725
OH Liaison Directory
Tammy Smith Program Specialist
Office of Federal Programs / State Department of Education
2500 N. Lincoln Blvd, Room 313
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73105-4599 US
Telephone: (405) 522-3260
Fax: (405) 522-3260
OK Liaison Directory
Dona Horine Bolt State Coordinator
Homeless Education Programs / Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol Street NE
Salem, Oregon, 97310-0203 US
Telephone: (503) 947-5781
Fax: (503) 947-5781
OR Liaison Directory
Storm Camara ECYEH Statewide Coordinator
Pennsylvania Department of Education / Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17126-0333 US
Telephone: (717) 772-2066
Fax: (717) 772-2066
PA Liaison Directory
Eileen Botelho State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Rhode Island Department of Education
255 Westminster Street 4th Floor
Providence, Rhode Island, 02903-3400 US
Telephone: (401) 222-8466
Fax: (401) 222-8466
RI Liaison Directory
Linda Mirabal-Pace McKinney-Vento State Coordinator/Title I
Office of Federal and State Accountability
1429 Senate Street Suite 504-B
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201 US
Telephone: (803) 734-6010
Fax: (803) 734-6010
SC Liaison Directory
Laura Johnson Frame State Coordinator
South Dakota Department of Education / Homeless Education Program
800 Governors Drive
Pierre, South Dakota, 57501 US
Telephone: (605) 773-2491
Fax: (605) 773-2491
SD Liaison Directory
Brinn Obermiller Interim McKinney-Vento Coordinator
Office of Consolidated Planning and Monitoring
710 James Robertson Pkwy, 12th Floor
Nashville, Tennessee, 37243-0379 US
Telephone: (615) 770-1802
Fax: (615) 770-1802
TN Liaison Directory
Cal Lopez McKinney-Vento State Coordinator
Texas Education Agency
William B Travis Bldg, 1701 N. Congress Ave.
Austin, Texas, 78701-1494 US
Telephone: (512) 463-9414
Fax: (512) 463-9414
TX Liaison Directory
Jeff Ojeda Education Specialist
Utah State Office of Education
250 East 500 South PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111-4200 US
Telephone: (801) 538-7500/(801) 641-7310
Fax: (801) 538-7500/(801) 641-7310
UT Liaison Directory
Katy Preston State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Vermont Agency of Education
1 National Life Drive, Davis 5
Montpelier, Vermont, 05620-2501 US
Telephone: (802) 828-1468
Fax: (802) 828-1468
VT Liaison Directory
Patricia Popp Homeless Education Coordinator
The College of William & Mary School of Education
PO Box 8795
Williamsburg, Virginia, 23187-8795 US
Telephone: (757) 221-7776
Fax: (757) 221-7776
VA Liaison Directory
Melinda Dyer Supervisor
Education of Homeless Children & Youth Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Old Capitol Building, PO Box 47200
Olympia, Washington, 98504-7200 US
Telephone: (360) 725-6050
Fax: (360) 725-6050
WA Liaison Directory
Rebecca Derenge Homeless Education Coordinator
West Virginia Department of Education Office of Federal Programs
Bldg. 6, Rm. 328, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, West Virginia, 25305 US
Telephone: (304) 558-7805, ext. 53204
Fax: (304) 558-7805, ext. 53204
WV Liaison Directory
Karen Rice Co-Coordinator
Homeless Education Program Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7841 US
Telephone: (608) 267-1284
Fax: (608) 267-1284
WI Liaison Directory
Shannon Cranmore Homeless Education Program Coordinator
Wyoming Department of Education School Support Division
2300 Capitol Avenue, Hathaway Bldg., 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82002 US
Telephone: (307) 777-3672
Fax: (307) 777-3672
WY Liaison Directory
Kristine Nadolski Co-Coordinator
Homeless Education Program, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
PO Box 7841
Madison, Wisconsin, 53701-7841 US
Telephone: 608-267-7338
Fax: 608-267-7338
WI Liaison Directory
Norma L. Rivera Ortiz Homeless Education Coordinator
Puerto Rico Department of Education, Office of Federal Affairs
PO Box 190759
San Juan PR, , 00919-0759 US
Telephone: (787) 773-2092
Fax: (787) 773-2092
Ike C. Santos State Coordinator / Administrator
Guam Department of Education
501 Mariner Avenue
Barrigada, Guam, , 96913 US
Telephone: (671) 300-1267
Fax: (671) 300-1267
Nicole Lee-Mwandha Homeless Education State Coordinator
Division of Elementary, Secondary and Specialized Education, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
1050 1st St NE 5th Floor
Washington, D.C., , 20002 US
Telephone: (202) 654-6123
Fax: (202) 654-6123
Valerie Todacheene, Ed. E. Education Program Specialist
Division of Performance and Accountability, Bureau of Indian Education
1011 Indian School Road NW Suite 332
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87104 US
Telephone: (505) 563-5269
Fax: (505) 563-5269
Marie Silverhatband Education Program Specialist
ESSA Supplemental Education Programs, Division of Performance & Accountability, Bureau of Indian Education
Chinle, Arizona, US
Telephone: (928) 674-5137
Fax: (928) 674-5137