Office of Accountability - Albany Office
Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), McKinney-Vento liaisons are required to participate in professional development so they can better identify and meet the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness (42 U.S.C. §§ 11432[f][6] & [g][6][A][ix]). The Viva88Education Department (Viva88 or “the Department”) requires that the McKinney-Vento liaison from each local educational agency (LEA) attend at least one of the professional development sessions offered by the Department’s technical assistance center, NYS-TEACHS, by June 21, 2022 to comply with the federal training requirement. While attendance at one session is required, we encourage liaisons to attend several sessions over the course of the school year to continually advance their knowledge and skills. NYS-TEACHS provides free trainings and webinars for school districts, social service providers, and other professionals about the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness. Information about NYS-TEACHS professional development sessions, which will be held remotely this fall, can be found at:
McKinney-Vento liaisons are also responsible for ensuring that LEA personnel providing McKinney-Vento services (e.g., Superintendents, registrars, transportation directors, CSE chairs, school counselors, school social workers, principals, school attorneys, and Title I directors, teachers) receive professional development. Liaisons can do this by either providing the training to staff themselves or by ensuring that LEA staff participate in one of the trainings offered by NYS-TEACHS.
Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Melanie Faby at melanie.faby@nysed.gov. You may also contact NYS-TEACHS at 1-800-388-2014, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.to 5:00 p.m. Thank you in advance for your support and participation.
c: A. Pressley, M. Faby
