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District liaison outlines McKinney‑Vento supports as 247 students experienced homelessness in 2024–25
Summary
Alicia Place, the district homeless liaison, told the board the McKinney‑Vento law guarantees immediate enrollment and other protections and described local services and partnerships; she reported 247 students experienced homelessness in 2024–25 and said community grants and partners help sustain supports.
Alicia Place, the School District of La Crosse’s Community Services Coordinator and homeless liaison, told the board the federal McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act guarantees educational rights for students with unstable housing and described how the district applies those protections locally.
"Students who are experiencing homelessness can enroll in school immediately without any documentation," Place said, summarizing a key McKinney‑Vento right. She explained that once identified, students can remain at their school of origin for the remainder of the year, receive free meals, and have fees and field‑trip costs waived.
Place gave the board specific local figures: "So, what this means locally uh in the 2024‑2025 school year, we had 247 students experience homelessness at some point during the school year." She noted the largest entry category was students "doubled up" with others (164) and described how students’ situations can change over time between hotel/motel stays, shelter, and doubled‑up housing.
To help meet needs, the district applies for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) grant on a three‑year cycle and partners with the YMCA, Great Rivers Hub and community health workers to provide outreach, housing navigation, transportation assistance and case management. Place said last year 57 students and families secured housing in part through community health workers and another 11 entered transitional housing programs.
Place also highlighted graduation outcomes and post‑secondary supports: she reported 20 seniors who experienced homelessness graduated in 2024‑25 and said similar numbers were expected this year. The presentation closed with a request that board members refer questions and follow up with her office or the provided slides for detail.
The board did not take action; members offered praise and asked for clarifying details about referrals, transportation costs and funding sources for the supports Place described.
