McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Public Notice

 

Cranfills Gap Independent School District

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Public Notice

2026–2027 School Year

505 South Second Street • P.O. Box 67 • Cranfills Gap, TX 76637 • 254-263-3388

Dear Student and Family,

Cranfills Gap ISD is committed to ensuring that every child and youth experiencing homelessness has equal access to a free, appropriate public education and the opportunity to succeed in school. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), provides specific educational rights and protections for eligible children and youth experiencing homelessness. Texas law also provides enrollment protections for students experiencing homelessness.

Who may qualify? A child or youth may be considered experiencing homelessness when they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This may include students living in shelters, transitional housing, motels or hotels, cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, or other places not ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations. It may also include students temporarily sharing housing with others because of loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by the district McKinney-Vento Liaison. Unaccompanied youth may also qualify.

Immediate enrollment: Eligible students must be enrolled immediately, even when they cannot provide records normally required for enrollment, such as previous school records, immunization or other health records, proof of residency, birth certificates, or guardianship documentation. Missing records or missed enrollment deadlines cannot be used to delay enrollment. The enrolling school will work with the previous school and the district liaison to obtain needed records.

School choice and school stability: A student experiencing homelessness has the right, consistent with the student's best interest, to continue attending the school of origin or to attend the public school serving the area where the student is currently living. The school of origin is generally the school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled, including the designated receiving school at the next grade level. In Texas, a student experiencing homelessness may enroll in any school district in the state, regardless of the student's temporary residence, school of origin, or attendance-zone campus. When a best-interest or school-selection dispute occurs, the student must remain immediately enrolled in the school requested while the dispute is resolved.

Transportation: Eligible students have the right to transportation to and from the school of origin when transportation is necessary for the student to access the school. The district will inform parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth of available transportation services and coordinate transportation as required by law.

Equal access and comparable services: Students experiencing homelessness must have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school and must receive services comparable to those provided to other students. This includes access, when otherwise eligible, to academic programs, special education services, English learner services, career and technical education, gifted and talented programs, school nutrition programs, extracurricular activities, and other school services. Students may not be segregated or stigmatized because they are experiencing homelessness.

Preschool and other support: McKinney-Vento protections include eligible preschool-aged children. The district liaison can help connect eligible children, youth, and families with educational services and referrals for health, dental, mental health, housing, and other community resources.

 

YOUR MCKINNEY-VENTO RIGHTS & SUPPORT

Dispute resolution: If a dispute occurs regarding eligibility, school selection, enrollment, or a best-interest determination, the district must provide written information about the decision and the right to appeal. The student must be immediately enrolled in the school requested while the dispute is pending, including available appeals. The district McKinney-Vento Liaison will assist the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth with the dispute-resolution process. Texas Education Agency (TEA) also provides a state-level dispute-resolution process if a local dispute is not resolved.

Your District McKinney-Vento Liaison: JJ Murphy, Counselor and District McKinney-Vento Liaison, serves as the primary contact for students and families experiencing homelessness. The liaison helps identify eligible students, remove enrollment barriers, coordinate services, explain school-choice and transportation rights, assist with disputes, provide referrals, and ensure eligible students have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.

JJ Murphy — Counselor / District McKinney-Vento Liaison
Cranfills Gap ISD
254-263-3388
jj.murphy@cranfillsgapisd.net

Gina Chambers — Principal
Cranfills Gap ISD
254-263-3388
gina.chambers@cranfillsgapisd.net

Keith Harmsen — CAO
Cranfills Gap ISD
254-263-3388
keith.harmsen@cranfillsgapisd.net

Ashley Moore — Nurse
ashley.moore@esc12.net

Monti Parchman — Superintendent
Cranfills Gap ISD
254-263-3388
monti.parchman@cranfillsgapisd.ne

Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Support: Families and educators may also contact the statewide TEHCY Support Hotline at 1-855-858-3429, Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. CST, for assistance related to school enrollment, transportation, supplies, and other McKinney-Vento support.

Helpful official resources:

Texas Education Agency – Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Texas Education Agency – McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution

TEHCY – McKinney-Vento Liaisons and Duties

U.S. Department of Education – McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Sincerely,

JJ Murphy

JJ Murphy
Counselor / District McKinney-Vento Liaison

Cranfills Gap Independent School District

505 South Second Street • P.O. Box 67 • Cranfills Gap, TX 76637 • 254-263-3388