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Kane County regional education office outlines McKinney‑Vento supports and outreach
Summary
Kane County Regional Office of Education described its McKinney‑Vento program, which helps identify and support students experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and highlighted coordination needs with schools and community groups.
Deanna Oliver, assistant superintendent with the Kane County Regional Office of Education, told the Public Service Committee on March 20 that the office’s McKinney‑Vento program helps students who are homeless or experiencing housing instability enroll and stay in school.
Oliver said the program is funded through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education and “we're able to provide not only, Jimmy Paolo's salary and benefits, but also support kids and things that they may need, to remove barriers from school.” She described services ranging from school supplies and winter clothing to help arranging transportation so students can remain at their school of origin.
The presentation explained why identification can be difficult: many eligible students are “doubled up” (living with another household) or “couch surfing,” situations that do not always produce a stable address. Oliver said school districts complete a common identification form and enter McKinney‑Vento eligibility into student information systems; the form also asks families to list other household members, which can help locate additional students in need.
Committee members and attendees stressed coordination with local nonprofit and faith‑based groups. Member comments noted an example at a high school that built an on‑site food pantry and asked whether the ROE could help make such resources more visible and connected to district liaisons. Oliver said she welcomes referrals: “If there's problems with enrollment, I would say come to me, basically meaning that the school district...haven't gotten what they've needed. Then it would come directly to me.”
Oliver also described expanded supports since COVID‑19, including mental‑health referrals and professional development for district liaisons, and said the ROE pays travel and one custodial parent for the county spelling bee winner to attend the national bee. She named Jimmy Paolo as the office’s McKinney‑Vento liaison and said the office can serve preschool through 12th grade.
The committee discussion included practical next steps: better linking food pantries and volunteer drives to district liaisons, and routing unresolved enrollment cases to the ROE for follow‑up. Oliver offered to receive direct referrals when district processes do not resolve a family’s needs.
