The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on February 7 to prevent ESSA regulations from taking effect.  Regardless of the fate of the regulations, we now can provide some clarity about state implementation of the two primary areas of McKinney-Vento affected by the ESSA regulations: 1) the content and submission of state plans; and 2) the method of calculating high school graduation rates for students experiencing homelessness. Read more.

A new SchoolHouse Connection report provides insights into the challenges that unaccompanied homeless youth face in accessing federal financial aid. The report analyzes newly available U.S. Department of Education (ED) data from the 2015-2016 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The data includes state-level data that will help states assess progress in implementing important new ESSA provisions designed to help youth experiencing homelessness transition from high school to post-secondary education. Read the report.

Several state legislatures have recognized that unaccompanied homeless youth under age 18 need legal rights to access housing, shelter and other basic services. A new SHC document summarizes current and pending state laws on the right to consent. State legislatures also have been actively supporting college students experiencing homelessness over the past few years. Another new SHC document provides a summary of existing strong state higher education laws. 

Great questions from school district liaisons and service providers keep coming in to our in-boxes, including on college and scholarship applications, preschool, and transitional housing. Read the questions and answers.

"During my career, I have had the opportunity to focus my efforts on strengthening the Oklahoma child serving system from both a direct practice and administrative level. This experience has supported me greatly in the administrative work that is often focused on compliance, grant administration, policy, statutes, and laws." In this week's essay, Anthony Kibble writes about his work as a new McKinney-Vento state coordinator, including Oklahoma's new state law defining homeless children and youth.

Looking to jazz up your trainings? Inject the voices of students and school staff? Help meet ESSA's new training requirements? Short training videos are available to raise awareness and address the specific perspectives of different audiences in professional development. In addition to a video featuring the voices of youth, there are videos specifically designed for: early childhood education providers; higher education audiences; school transportation staff; principals; registrars; counselors; social workers; and community members.

A new Congress, a new Administration, new policies, new resources, new research: there's a whole lot that's new this year. The best way to stay up-to-date in between SHC newsletters is to like our Facebook page.