All 2025-26 training opportunities, Lunch Time Live connections, and other connection opportunities are scheduled and can be viewed here – DPI EHCY Virtual Events/Trainings Calendar.

Save The Date! New Homeless Liaison training, September 24, 2025 9:00-11:30 a.m.

The EHCY team is holding a free virtual training aimed at supporting homeless liaisons who are new to the role. The training is also open to all staff, including support staff, administration, and staff directly supporting students experiencing homelessness. The training will include an overview of the McKinney-Vento Act and information on the role of the homeless liaison. Register for the training webinar here.

Lunch Time Live Connections

We are continuing the Lunch Time Live connections this year. These are optional opportunities to connect with liaisons and staff across the state to share best practices in supporting children and youth experiencing homelessness. Here are the first few dates to save:

September 16, 11:30 a.m.

October 29, 11:30 a.m.

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) Conference

The annual NAEHCY conference will be held in-person in Dallas, TX (there is also a virtual option) from November 1-4, 2025. This is the only national conference that addresses homeless education and is geared towards homeless liaisons and providers that work with youth experiencing homelessness. Presenters will focus on strategies to address current issues and best practices in homeless education. Find more information about the conference on the 2025 NAEHCY Conference website.

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, local education agencies (LEAs) have the responsibility to identify a homeless liaison who will assist students experiencing homelessness. The following are requirements and best practices for homeless liaisons at the beginning of the year:

• Students should not automatically be identified as homeless for the new school year if they experienced homelessness last year. Contact each family/youth who was in a homeless situation at the end of the 2023-24 school year to discuss their current living situation to determine eligibility for the 2024-25 school year.
• Identify new students enrolling in the district that are eligible for services under McKinney-Vento. The district’s enrollment process should include a way for families to self-identify as experiencing homelessness (sometimes referred to as a residency questionnaire). The DPI homeless website has sample forms to help with the enrollment and identification process.
• Train all staff in your district on McKinney-Vento and the process to refer students to the homeless liaison. It is particularly helpful at the beginning of the year to remind staff of the definition of homelessness and ensure staff know the rights students have under McKinney-Vento. You can choose the best way to meet this requirement which could include a short video or training module from the DPI EHCY training webpage or the SchoolHouse Connection tools and resources page and awareness and training page.
• The beginning of the year is a good time to review district procedures to remove barriers and ensure proper identification of students experiencing homelessness.

Many districts have new staff and may have identified a new homeless liaison for this year. Please follow the instructions on this page to update the homeless liaison contact information in the school directory application for your district as soon as possible: https://dpi.wi.gov/homeless/liaisons.