Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program
Welcome to the TEHCY Program
The TEHCY Program leads the way in ensuring that all students experiencing homelessness in Texas have equal access to a quality education. Guided by both state and federal laws, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, TEHCY provides critical leadership, resources, and support to help schools meet the unique needs of McKinney-Vento eligible students.
All Texas public schools, charter schools, and education service centers—collectively referred to as school systems—are required to uphold the federal protections and educational rights guaranteed to homeless students. TEHCY works in partnership with school systems to ensure these students receive the stability, support, and opportunities they need to thrive academically and beyond.
The TEHCY web portal is an extension of the TEHCY Program, designed to support school systems and professionals with easy access to professional development opportunities, essential program resources, and the statewide liaison directory. Whether you're a new liaison or a seasoned McKinney-Vento stakeholder, this portal is your go-to hub for tools and guidance to help McKinney-Vento eligible students succeed.
**NEW** Need Technical Assistance Support?
To enhance statewide implementation of McKinney-Vento requirements, the TEA TEHCY Program launched "TEHCY Support", managed by Education Service Center Region 11 on behalf of TEA.
Whether you're a school staff member seeking technical assistance or a student or family experiencing homelessness, the TEHCY Support is here to help. Use the web-based intake form to connect with the TEHCY State Office and Regional Network for guidance on school enrollment, transportation, supplies, and more.
Get Started with TEHCY Support Assistance: School District Locator
TEHCY Support Hotline (New)
Families and educators can call 1-855-85TEHCY (1-855-858-3429)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. CST
McKinney-Vento Posters
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released updated McKinney-Vento posters to help raise awareness and support for students experiencing homelessness. Two versions are available: one designed for parents and guardians of school-age youth, and another tailored specifically for unaccompanied youth. Each version is offered in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility for diverse communities.
School systems can download the digital files below and are encouraged to post them on their homeless education program webpages. To maximize outreach, schools should collaborate with staff and community partners—such as food pantries, faith-based organizations, local housing authorities, and shelters—to distribute printed copies and ensure this vital information reaches those who need it most.
Announcements & Updates
Stay informed with the latest from the TEHCY Program. This section features upcoming professional development opportunities, newly released resources, and listserv announcements for the 2025–2026 school year. Check back regularly to access timely tools and information designed to support your work with McKinney-Vento eligible students.
TEHCY Professional Learning & Support Opportunities
The TEHCY Program is proud to offer webinars to deliver timely updates, expert insights, and proven best practices to help educators, administrators, and support staff better serve students experiencing homelessness. These sessions are designed to build capacity, TEHCY collaboration, and strengthen support systems across Texas. For a comprehensive, printable PDF listing of all HMAR and individual program webinars and professional development opportunities for the 2025–26 school year, please visit the HMAR webinar webpage.
To view previously offered webinars, please visit the TEHCY YouTube channel or explore the Training Library on the TEHCY Web Portal for on-demand access to past sessions.
Newly Released Resources & Announcements
2025-26 School Year
- The TEHCY Infographics have been updated for the 2025-26SY. (Published October 17, 2025)
- The TEHCY Student Success and Behavior Guide has been released! (Published October 1, 2025)
Remember to visit our TEHCY Web Portal's resource HUB and HMAR's tools and resources page.
Grants Information
For TEHCY Grant opportunities, please visit the TEA Grant Opportunities Webpage. For current drawdowns of federal and state grant funds, please visit the Federal and State Monthly Drawdown Interactive Dashboards; these are updated monthly.
HMAR's TEHCY Program has developed a 'how-to' resource guide to assist stakeholders in navigating TEHCY Grants: How to Guidance on Accessing TEHCY Grants on TEA’s Grants Opportunities Page
- 2025-26 TEHCY Continuation Grant Application Reallocation Amounts Now Available - Announcement released 2/10/2026
Student Services
School systems play a vital role in ensuring that students experiencing homelessness receive the support they need to succeed. Below, you’ll find an overview of key student services—such as enrollment assistance, transportation coordination, and dispute resolution processes—designed to remove barriers to education and promote stability. For comprehensive guidance, tools, and additional resources related to these services, school staff and liaisons are encouraged to visit the TEHCY Web Portal linked at the top of this page.
Every LEA must identify students experiencing homelessness within their district. This process must be done regularly and in a way that is auditable. In Texas, most districts choose to use a student residency questionnaire to help determine whether or not students qualify as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. The TEHCY Program Infographic summarizes the identification and graduation data for students experiencing homelessness enrolled in Texas public schools.
Students who are experiencing homelessness are to be enrolled immediately. Districts cannot require students experiencing homelessness to provide proof of residency, immunizations, birth certificates guardianship documents, or any other sort of required paperwork before enrolling. Requiring missing paperwork or any other delay to enrollment is a violation of the McKinney-Vento Act.
Students who are experiencing homelessness have the right to attend school in their school of origin or in the school in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing. School of origin is defined as the school in which the child/youth was enrolled when they became homeless or the school in which the child/youth was last enrolled. The campus a child attends is determined by which campus can serve the best interests of the child. In Texas, a student experiencing homelessness may enroll in any district they choose, regardless of the location of their residence, school of origin, or attendance zone campus. [TEC § 25.001(b)(5)]
Disagreements over school enrollment and best interest determinations must be resolved through the dispute resolution process. While in the dispute resolution process the child is entitled to attend the campus in question until the matter is resolved.
Students experiencing homelessness have the right to transportation to their school of origin. This provision applies even if a student moves outside of the school of origins’ attendance zone or district boundaries. School of origin transportation must continue for the duration of the child’s homelessness or until the end of the school year in which a child becomes permanently housed.
Students experiencing homelessness who are not on a Title-I campus are eligible to receive Title-I services. These services are provided at the discretion of the LEA through existing Title-I programs or through the use of Title-I, Part A set-aside funds for students who are not on Title-I campuses. Students on Title-I campuses may receive additional supplemental services to the services being provided on their campus through the Title-I, Part A set-asides as well. Services may include personal school supplies, items of clothing that are necessary to meet a school’s dress requirement, immunizations, supplemental counseling services, tutoring, costs associated with credit recovery, or other similar activities to address a child’s opportunity for school success.
Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program
Email: HomelessEducation@tea.texas.gov