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Kansas

McKinney-Vento Support for Kansas School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in Kansas, you likely handle various responsibilities within your district. With many school districts serving students across the Sunflower State's agricultural communities and growing cities, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while enhancing your service delivery.

Kansas
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The Challenge in Kansas

Kansas presents a diverse landscape for addressing student homelessness, encompassing major urban centers, suburban areas, and vast rural regions. A lack of quality, affordable housing is widely recognized as a significant barrier to the state's growth and development.

7,594 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was almost 450k; Kansas' identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 1.6%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a pervasive struggle across Kansas, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students. Many low-income Kansans spend over 30% of their income on housing costs.
 
  • Many students experience homelessness by living in doubled-up situations with others due to economic hardship or loss of housing. In the 2022-2023 school year, 76.9% of those identified had this type of accommodation.2
  • In urban areas homelessness impacts various sectors, including public, nonprofit, and private. These cities face a shortage of both very low-income rental units and higher-end homes, making affordability a challenge.
  • Rural Kansas faces a significant housing shortage, needing thousands of new homes annually. Developers are often disincentivized from building in small towns, forcing workers to live outside their communities. 

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Kansas contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students.
 
  • In urban centers like Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, KS, challenges can include the expense of public transit (where available), navigating complex networks, and managing long commutes to maintain school stability, particularly for students whose temporary housing is far from their school of origin.
  • In rural areas, the primary obstacles are the lack of public transportation options and vast distances between temporary residences and schools. Reliance on limited school bus routes or the absence of city systems compounds barriers to consistent school attendance, affecting access to education and other essential services.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3 Kansas identified 1.6% during the 2022-2023 school year, below than the national average.

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How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Kansas Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

We help you meet federal regulations with up-to-date checklists, policy templates, and annual audit preparation tailored for Kansas schools.

Enhanced Identification: Your "Army of Awareness"

Custom training materials and awareness campaigns adapted for rural and urban districts help staff recognize housing insecurity early.

Comprehensive Training

Live webinars and on-demand modules-covering trauma-informed practices, transportation logistics, and rural outreach-available year round.

Data Management and Funding Support

Tools to track students, manage eligibility, and access local/federal funding (e.g., Title I, II) help boost resource allocation.

Expert Guidance and Advocacy Support

Subject Matter Experts with many years of McKinney-Vento implementation are ready to provide support on challenging cases, work through situations and help you connect with resources to support your work.
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Success with McKinney-Vento.org

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Featured

“ As I changed school districts this last year, I have become more aware of the homelessness in the school systems. I have moved to a district with many newcomers and most have come with out parents or guardians. This information is very helpful. I am going to pay more attention to situations and help when needed. ”

Cynthia J.

Kansas

Why Kansas Districts Choose McKinney-Vento.org

check-mark McKinney-Vento Expertise

McKinney-Vento.org delivers specialized training and compliance tools for identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness under federal education law.

 

check-mark Proven Results Since 2014

Our track record speaks for itself – from small rural districts to large urban systems, we've consistently delivered measurable improvements in homeless student support and educational stability.

 

check-mark The Only Turnkey Solution Available

Stop piecing together incomplete solutions. We provide the industry's only comprehensive, turnkey McKinney-Vento implementation system designed specifically for today's educational environment.

State Coordinator Contact

Maureen Tabasko, Education Program Consultant
Phone: (785) 296-1101
 

Citations

1,2,3 Child and Youth Homelessness Data Profiles powered by University of Michigan Poverty Solutions and SHC
  https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/schoolhouseconnection/viz/ChildandYouthHomelessnessDataProfiles/National 

Ready to Better Support Kansas' Homeless Students?

Join the Kansas districts using McKinney-Vento.org to improve outcomes for students experiencing homelessness.

We'll help you find the funding and build internal support to make this program successful in your district.

Book your personalized demo
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