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Wyoming

McKinney-Vento Support for Wyoming School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in Wyoming, you likely wear many hats within your district. As the least populous state, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while enhancing your efficiency.

Wyoming
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The Challenge in Wyoming

Wyoming presents a unique and often challenging landscape for addressing student homelessness, characterized by its vast, sparsely populated rural areas and smaller urban centers.

2,118 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was over 92k; Wyoming's identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 2.3%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a struggle across Wyoming, impacting educational access and stability for homeless students. The state is currently facing an affordable housing crisis.
 
  • 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, approximately 67.4% of identified homeless students in Wyoming were living doubled-up.2
  • In urban areas, while there may be a concentration of services, the high cost of housing relative to local incomes creates a significant affordability gap, leading to visible homelessness and strain on emergency shelters.
  • Rural communities, such as those near Buffalo or Pinedale, face distinct challenges due to extremely limited resources, few shelters, and lack of local capacity for housing initiatives. Homelessness in these regions is often more "hidden," with families relying on informal networks, living in substandard housing, or experiencing unsheltered conditions, making identification and support difficult.

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Wyoming contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students, exacerbated by the state's vast distances and often severe winter weather.
 
  • In urban centers like Cheyenne, Casper, and Laramie, challenges can include the expense of public transit (where available), long commutes across cities, and navigating complex transportation needs 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 severe lack of public transportation options and vast distances between temporary residences and schools. Reliance on limited school bus routes that may not flexibly accommodate students' fluctuating living situations, along with Wyoming's winter travel conditions, compounds barriers to consistent school attendance.
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Wyoming's Native American Student Homelessness

Native American students in Wyoming face disproportionate homelessness, creating unique educational challenges.

  • Hidden Homelessness: Cultural views of "home," historical mistrust, and stigma make identification difficult.
  • Rural/Reservation Barriers: Lack of shelters and limited services in these vast areas exacerbate the problem.
  • Culturally Responsive Support: Effective homeless education requires culturally competent outreach and strong tribal partnerships to build trust and provide meaningful assistance aligned with unique community needs.

The BIE Bureau of Indian Education and BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs coordinate efforts to ensure students in tribal communities have access to the educational supports and services they need.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3  Wyoming identified 2.3% during the 2022-2023 school year.

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How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Wyoming Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

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

Wyoming

Why Wyoming 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

Shannon Cranmore, Homeless Education and Title I-D Subpart I Program Manager
Phone: (307) 777-3672

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 Wyoming's Homeless Students?

Join the Wyoming 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.

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