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Vermont

McKinney-Vento Support for Vermont School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in Vermont, you likely manage diverse duties within your district. Serving Vermont's close-knit communities, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while enhancing your collaborative efforts.

Vermont
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The Challenge in Vermont

Vermont presents a unique and often challenging landscape for addressing student homelessness, characterized by its predominantly rural nature, high cost of living, and an acute housing shortage despite its small population.

1,620 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was over 83k; Vermont's identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 1.9%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a pervasive struggle across Vermont, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students, driven by rising prices and limited supply.
 
  • Many students experience homelessness by living doubled-up due to economic hardship. In 2022-2023, approximately 54.8% of identified homeless students in Vermont lived doubled-up, with many also in hotels/motels (30%).2
  • In urban areas, despite concentrated services, very low housing vacancy rates and high demand limit affordable options for families.
  • Rural areas face challenges from restrictive zoning and land-use policies that limit new affordable housing types. This contributes to "hidden" homelessness and workforce shortages as essential workers cannot afford local housing.

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Vermont significantly hinder school attendance for homeless students, especially given the state's rural landscape.
 
  • In urban centers like Burlington, Rutland, and Montpelier, challenges can include public transit costs, navigating routes, and managing commutes to maintain school stability when temporary housing is far from school.
  • In rural areas, primary obstacles are the severe lack of public transportation and vast distances between residences and schools. This makes accessing education and essential services significantly challenging for homeless students.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3  Vermont identified 1.5% during the 2022-2023 school year, less than the national average.

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How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Vermont Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

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

Vermont

Why Vermont 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

Katy Preston, State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Phone: (802) 828-1468

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 Vermont's Homeless Students?

Join the Vermont 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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