Current News
PEIMS Homeless Status and Unaccompanied Youth Status Indicators
Effective with the 2012-13 school year, PEIMS has incorporated two new indicators for students:
1. A determination must be made as to the homeless status for EACH student in every LEA. One of five possible living situations must also be identified for those students who are identified as "homeless."
2. A determination must be made as to the unaccompanied youth status for EACH student that is identified as "homeless."
The Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO), in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), has developed a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document addressing these new PEIMS indicators.
THEO has also developed additional documents with instructions for the homeless status and unaccompanied youth status indicators, and sample templates for the indicators that may be incorporated into LEA student enrollment documents. These documents are intended to assist LEAs with the identification of students in homeless situations and the implementation of the new indicators.
To access these documents, click here.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the THEO office at 1-800-446-3142.
PEIMS Homeless Status and Unaccompanied Youth Status Indicators Online Training Video
In addition to the above-referenced materials, Region 10 ESC has developed a short training video outlining the process and criteria for the new PEIMS indicators. You may view the video by clicking on the title above or by going to www.region10.org/mvh.
Dispute Resolution Process for Children Experiencing Homelessness
Click on the title above to view the guidance regarding the process that is required for all LEAs to follow when resolving a dispute regarding the homeless status of a student.
August 3, 2012: Letter from the Texas Education Agency's General Counsel
Click on the title above to view the 2012-13 letter from the Texas Education Agency's General Counsel to administrators regarding attendance, admission, and enrollment.
MV FAFSA Round Up Week (Financial Aid Resources for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth)
Welcome to THEO’s newest tool to support schools and students. The McKinney-Vento – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (MV-FAFSA) Round-Up Week toolkit is designed to provide high school counselors and school district homeless liaisons with everything they need to:
- Identify “homeless” seniors in their schools and districts, and
- Help ensure that ALL eligible students complete the FAFSA as unaccompanied homeless youth and receive financial aid for college.
Click on the link above for all the details.
Updated Fact Sheets
The Fact Sheets are updated periodically, with many revisions and some additions, including a student residency questionnaires, homeless student reporting information, financial aid access for higher education, and many support documents on the impacts of the housing crisis and the economic downturn on homelessness.
Order Texas Homeless Education Support Resources Free of Charge
A number of resources are available to school districts, education service centers, charter schools, and homeless service-provider agencies, free of charge, in addition to the downloadable resources found on the THEO website Resources page. These resources include:
- English and Spanish posters and brochures of the educational rights and responsibilities of children and youth experiencing homelessness
- The THEO Training Packet
- The McKinney-Vento Act in Our Schools DVD, recently distributed to all the LEAs in Texas, containing 10 short videos featuring educators and service providers discussing the implementation of the McKinny-Vento statute educatin requirements
- Three Unaccompanied Youth Toolkits (one for Financial Aid Administrators, one for High School Counselors and McKinney-Vento Liaisons, and one for Shelter and Service Providers), developed by Patricia Julianelle, legal counsel for the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)
To access the materials order form, click here.
To access the electronic, downloadabe version of the toolkits, click here.
Checklist for Identifying Students Experiencing Homelessness (pdf 68kb)
This quick-reference checklist shares basic strategies for schools and school districts to identify children and youth experiencing homelessness. It briefly explains the legal requirements for identification and how identifying homeless students can help school districts be more competitive for federal funds. The checklist is designed for ease of use and includes links to sample resources.