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District liaison outlines McKinney‑Vento supports for unhoused students
Summary
District staff described how Grants Pass SD 7 identifies and supports students lacking fixed, adequate nighttime residence, detailing registration flags, scripted eligibility interviews, PowerSchool flags and partnerships with the Maslow Project for housing, transportation and basic needs.
A district McKinney‑Vento representative told the advisory committee the district tracks McKinney‑Vento eligibility by asking families about living situations during registration and by responding to direct reports from students, parents or referrals from teachers and community partners.
Kathy, the district’s McKinney‑Vento liaison, described monthly case‑management meetings and frequent check‑ins for freshmen. “I meet with every student on a monthly basis with more frequent check‑ins with freshmen to ensure they are building a strong foundation,” Kathy said, describing work that includes reviewing grades, attendance and behavior and connecting students to SNAP, OHP, transportation and emergency food and clothing.
Staff explained eligibility categories used by the district: doubled‑up (living with another household), hotel, sheltered (for example, a domestic‑violence shelter) or unsheltered (for example, living in a car or moving trailer). The McKinney‑Vento representative said the district also flags unaccompanied youth—students not living with their parents—for supports.
When registration indicates a possible housing instability, the district’s script prompts a referral; eligible students are flagged in PowerSchool so teachers and staff can see context for attendance or performance issues. Kathy described steps she takes after a flag: outreach to families or the student, assessment of immediate needs, and connection to community partners. “I step in where needed, whether that means signing field‑trip forms, connecting them to essential resources, such as SNAP and OHP, providing food bags, or helping secure transportation,” she said.
Staff noted a partnership with the Maslow Project for broader case management, and that seniors connected to Maslow six months before graduation remain eligible for continued support after graduation.
The presentation included historical counts for District 7 (reported as of March 26) and noted a spike in McKinney‑Vento enrollment after the Phoenix fires in 2021. Staff emphasized that counts fluctuate day‑to‑day and that initial qualification work happens primarily in the fall.
Committee members asked about confidentiality and how office managers and designees use the scripted interviews for kindergarten through eighth‑grade referrals; staff confirmed consistent training and use of the script districtwide. The session closed with an invitation for committee members to suggest outreach or donation options to support the liaison’s work.
