Tools and Resources
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides a suite of tools and resources to help school systems effectively support highly mobile and at-risk student populations. These resources are designed to address the diverse and complex needs of students experiencing homelessness, in foster care, or facing other mobility-related challenges.
These tools are designed to promote educational stability, remove barriers to success, and empower educators and administrators to create responsive, inclusive learning environments. Whether you're seeking implementation support, professional development, or strategic planning tools, this page serves as a valuable hub for actionable resources.
🎥 Military-Connected Students Program Video Suite - NEW
The Texas Education Agency (TEA), in partnership with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), is proud to present this video series designed to support military-connected students, families, and educators across Texas. This collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to fostering welcoming, responsive, and well-informed educational environments that recognize the unique experiences of military families. Through these videos, TEA and MCEC aim to empower educators and families with practical insights, resources, and strategies that promote academic success, emotional well-being, and strong school-community connections for every military-connected child.
The series is organized into four key topics, with each topic featuring two videos: one tailored for educators and the other for families, ensuring relevant and practical guidance for both audiences. (Videos released 10/10/2025)
Military Culture and Lifestyles
This video series offers a dual perspective on the lived experiences of military-connected families and the role educators play in supporting them. From the family viewpoint, the video highlights how frequent relocations and deployments shape traditions, values, and daily routines, revealing the resilience and adaptability that define military life. The educator-focused video complements this by emphasizing the importance of understanding these cultural dynamics, including mobility and service-related stress, to create welcoming and responsive learning environments. Together, these videos foster deeper empathy and awareness, encouraging stronger connections between schools and military families.
👉 Watch now: Military Culture and Lifestyle - Family and Educator
Military Families Relocating to Texas
This video series offers practical guidance and emotional support for military-connected families and educators navigating school transitions. Families share personal experiences of relocating to Texas, offering tips on preparing children for change, accessing school resources, and building new community connections. Educators gain strategies to welcome new students, maintain academic continuity, and foster trust with families facing frequent moves. Together, these perspectives highlight the importance of collaboration and understanding in creating smooth, supportive transitions for military-connected students.
👉 Watch now: Military Families Relocating to Texas - Family and Educator
Military Connected Students with Exceptional and Special Needs
This video series highlights the experiences and needs of exceptional children within military families, offering insights for both families and educators. Families share personal stories of advocacy and empowerment, emphasizing the importance of accessing support systems like the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and navigating educational and healthcare services. Educators learn best practices and strategies to support students with special needs, collaborate effectively with families, and leverage military-specific resources to ensure comparable access to learning and development. Together, these perspectives promote a shared commitment to meeting the unique needs of exceptional learners in military communities.
👉 Watch now: Military Connected Students with Exceptional and Special Needs - Family and Educator
Supporting Military Families
This video series highlights the vital role of schools and communities in supporting military-connected families. Families share how emotional wellness, parent engagement, and access to resources contribute to stability and student success. Educators are guided in building strong, culturally sensitive relationships with families through effective communication and collaboration. Together, these perspectives emphasize the power of partnership in creating nurturing environments where students and caregivers feel valued and supported.
👉 Watch now: Supporting Military Families - Family and Educator
🎥 Foster Care ESSA Tools Promotional Video – NEW!
Unleash the power of storytelling to elevate your foster care program outreach! This newly released promotional video spotlights the critical ESSA tools available to support educational stability for students in foster care. In under two minutes, it delivers a compelling message that informs, inspires, and mobilizes action. Whether you're briefing district leaders, training campus staff, or engaging community partners, this video is a dynamic resource to spark conversations and drive meaningful support. Watch it, share it, and use it to amplify your commitment to access and success for every student in foster care.
👉 Watch now (Released 10/3/25): https://youtu.be/ZXNBO1KjMS8?si=l12JecIykv1p65Eu
🎥 Discover the Heart of HMAR: Empowering Texas Students Through Support and Innovation Promotional Video - NEW!
Step into the mission-driven work of the Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs (HMAR) Unit with this inspiring new video. Designed to inform and ignite action, the video showcases how TEA’s HMAR team is transforming educational outcomes for students experiencing homelessness, in foster care, or connected to the military. Through strategic partnerships, statewide support, and innovative tools, HMAR is building pathways to success for Texas’s most vulnerable youth. Use this video to elevate awareness, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and reinforce your commitment to access and opportunity for every student. Watch it, share it, and be part of the movement to ensure no student is left behind.
👉 Watch now (Released 10/3/25): https://youtu.be/Bk-XrqUHPig?si=mOq30WO1j3XZVm2b
🎥 Mentoring Matters: Breaking the Cycle Through Connection (AMACHI Texas)
Discover how consistent, caring mentorship can transform lives in this powerful video spotlighting support for children of incarcerated parents and other at-risk youth. Centered on prevention, resilience, and long-term impact, the video highlights how positive adult-youth relationships can disrupt cycles of intergenerational incarceration and open doors to brighter futures. Whether you're an educator, community leader, or advocate, this video is a compelling call to action—showing how mentorship fosters personal growth, builds hope, and empowers young people to thrive. Watch, share, and be part of the movement to uplift Texas youth through connection and compassion.
👉 Watch now (Released 10/30/24): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyyIqCJBy_s
Downloadable Resources
AskTED is an online directory of Texas school information, including charter schools. The directory is primarily used by people seeking contact information for schools, districts, and education service centers. AskTED is a real-time database that is updated regularly by Texas LEAs.
To that end, Texas School Districts and Open-Enrollment Charter Schools are required to have both Homeless and Foster Care Liaisons as individual designated roles for all LEAs. The information must be maintained and stored in AskTED. It is important for LEAs to keep this information regularly updated, so that McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Liaison information is publicly available, and these points of contacts are available to support students and remove barriers related to school transitions and mobility.
This document serves as a contact directory for individual HMAR program liaisons and/or champions at the Education Service Centers (ESCs). Stakeholders can use this guide to locate their ESC’s Homeless Liaison, Foster Care Champion, and Military-Connected Student Champion.
Inaugural TEA Foster Care Infographics (Released 10/22/2025)
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has introduced its first Foster Care Infographics, a new visual resource designed to support understanding of the educational experiences of students in foster care across Texas. This tool presents key data in a clear and accessible format to help educators, administrators, and community partners better understand the needs and strengths of these students. By encouraging statewide collaboration and informed decision-making, the infographics support efforts to promote school stability, smooth transitions, and student engagement. They also provide context for professional development and help align educational practices with existing guidelines and requirements. Above all, the infographics emphasize the importance of student voice and resilience, presenting a strengths-based perspective that fosters academic growth and personal development.
👉 View the Foster Care Infographics
Military-Connected Student Program Infographics & Data Reports
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released two updated resources to support understanding of military-connected students in Texas public schools. The Military-Connected Student Identifier (MSI) Infographics Resource provides schools with concise guidance on collecting MSI data for PEIMS and includes updated figures from the 2024–25 school year. This one-pager helps districts accurately identify and report military-connected students, contributing to more informed support strategies.
👉 View the Military Student Identifier (MSI) Infographics (Updated 6/3/2025)
Additionally, the Statewide Military Student Identifier Data Report offers a broader view of MSI trends across Texas, using Fall Snapshot PEIMS data from 2022, 2023, and 2024. This report presents high-level insights into student counts by MSI type, regional distribution by ESC, and Purple Star Campus Designation (PSCD) activity. Together, these resources offer valuable context for educators, administrators, and regional partners working to enhance educational experiences for military-connected students.
👉 View the Statewide (Texas) Military Student Identifier Data Report (2024)
Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Infographics (Updated 10/17/2025)
The 2024 Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program Infographic provides a visual summary of identification and graduation data for students experiencing homelessness enrolled in Texas public schools. This resource offers a snapshot of key statewide trends and supports data-informed strategies to improve educational outcomes for highly mobile students.
👉 View the TEHCY Program Infographic
This series of one-pagers guides school systems with implementing the transition assistance requirements for students who are in foster care or experiencing homelessness. These requirements include:
- Providing nutrition benefits upon enrollment
- Holding an enrollment conference
- Providing student welcome packets
- Introducing new students to the school
- TAC §89.1605
Given that ESSER III funds must be obligated by September 2023 and completely spent by September 2024, the Office of Special Populations and Student Support (OSPSS) at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) wants to remind local educational agencies (LEAs) of the requirements and allowable uses of these funds to meet the unique needs of students adversely impacted by the pandemic.