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Missouri

McKinney-Vento Support for Missouri School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in Missouri, you likely manage diverse duties within your district. Serving students across Missouri's mix of major metropolitan areas, rural communities, and Ozark regions, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while strengthening your operational effectiveness.

Missouri
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The Challenge in Missouri

Missouri presents a diverse landscape for addressing student homelessness, encompassing major urban centers like St. Louis and Kansas City, alongside vast rural and suburban regions. The state faces a growing housing crisis, significantly impacting its student population.

34,565 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was over 890k; Missouri's identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 3.9%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a pervasive struggle across Missouri, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students. The state faces a shortage of affordable homes for its low-income renters.
 
  • 84.3% of identified homeless students in Missouri in 2022-2023 were living in doubled-up situations with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship.3
  • In urban areas homelessness can be more visible due to concentrated services and shelters. These regions experience high demand and affordability challenges, with students residing in emergency shelters, motels, or transitional housing.
  • Rural communities face distinct challenges with fewer formal shelters and limited resources. Homelessness here is often "hidden," as families frequently rely on informal networks. Even relatively low numbers of homeless individuals can easily overwhelm a rural community's scarce resources.

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Missouri contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students. This is a persistent barrier in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.
 
  • In urban centers like St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield, challenges can include the expense of public transit, navigating complex transportation 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, employment, and healthcare.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3 Missouri identified 3.9% during the 2022-2023 school year, above the national average.

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How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Missouri Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

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

Missouri

Why Missouri 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

Tera Bock, Director of Homeless Education
Phone: (573) 522-8763

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 Missouri's Homeless Students?

Join the Missouri 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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