McKinney-Vento / Homeless Liaison Resources
Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness
Every Oklahoma public school district designates a local McKinney-Vento liaison, often called a homeless liaison, to help identify and support children and youth experiencing homelessness and ensure they can enroll, attend, and succeed in school.
Liaisons play an important role in removing barriers to education and connecting students and families with appropriate school and community supports.
Start Here: Your Role as a McKinney-Vento Liaison
Local liaisons help ensure that children and youth experiencing homelessness are identified and receive the educational rights and services available to them under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Responsibilities include helping students and families navigate issues related to identification, enrollment, school stability, transportation, access to educational services, and referrals to community resources. NCHE has a current brief specifically explaining the liaison role and required duties
Have a McKinney-Vento Question?
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is the primary resource for Oklahoma school districts regarding McKinney-Vento implementation, eligibility, educational rights, and liaison responsibilities.
OSDE administers Oklahoma's McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Program, which addresses barriers students experiencing homelessness may face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.
For more information, contact:
Tammy Smith, Senior Director, Federal Programs
tammy.smith@sde.ok.org
(405) 522-3260
Helpful Resources for Liaisons
McKinney-Vento.Org Liaison Portal
A free resource for liaisons to access materials, ask questions, participate in discussions, and connect with other McKinney-Vento professionals.
SchoolHouse Connection
Provides practical resources and tools related to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness, including resources for educators, service providers, and advocates.
NCHE McKinney-Vento 101: Understanding and Implementing the Law
The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) September 2026 McKinney-Vento 101 training covers the definition of homelessness, student rights, identification and enrollment, and the responsibilities of state coordinators and local liaisons.
For more information, contact:
LeeAnn Bennett
leeann.bennett@occy.ok.gov
(405) 606-4907