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Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs

Highly Mobile and At-Risk (HMAR) Student Programs are dedicated to increasing awareness, building capacity, and enhancing supports, resources, and tools to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of all highly mobile and at-risk students across the state.

homeless education

Texas Education for Homeless Children & Youth

Local, State & National Resources
Region 17 Contacts for HMAR
Programs Housed Under HMAR

State Level Contacts for Homeless Education:

Mr. John Dobbins

McKinney-Vento State Coordinator

HomelessEducation@tea.texas.gov

The Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program leads the way in ensuring that all students experiencing homelessness in Texas have equal access to a quality education. Guided by both state and federal laws, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, TEHCY provides critical leadership, resources, and support to help schools meet the unique needs of McKinney-Vento eligible students.

All Texas public schools, charter schools, and education service centers are required to uphold the federal protections and educational rights guaranteed to homeless students. TEHCY works in partnership with school systems to ensure these students receive the stability, support, and opportunities they need to thrive academically and beyond.

 
  • Every LEA must identify students experiencing homelessness within their district. This process must be done regularly and in a way that is auditable. In Texas, most districts choose to use a student residency questionnaire to help determine whether or not students qualify as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act.

    • The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released updated McKinney-Vento posters to help raise awareness and support for students experiencing homelessness. Two versions are available: one designed for parents and guardians of school-age youth, and another tailored specifically for unaccompanied youth. Each version is offered in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility for diverse communities.

      School systems can download the digital files below and are encouraged to post them on their homeless education program webpages. To maximize outreach, schools should collaborate with staff and community partners—such as food pantries, faith-based organizations, local housing authorities, and shelters—to distribute printed copies and ensure this vital information reaches those who need it most.

    Students who are experiencing homelessness should be enrolled immediately. Districts cannot require students experiencing homelessness to provide proof of residency, immunizations, birth certificates guardianship documents, or any other sort of required paperwork before enrolling. Requiring missing paperwork or any other delay to enrollment is a violation of the McKinney-Vento Act.
  • Students who are experiencing homelessness have the right to attend school in their school of origin or in the school in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing. School of origin is defined as the school in which the child/youth was enrolled when they became homeless or the school in which the child/youth was last enrolled. The campus a child attends is determined by which campus can serve the best interests of the child. In Texas, a student experiencing homelessness may enroll in any district they choose, regardless of the location of their residence, school of origin, or attendance zone campus.

  • Students experiencing homelessness have the right to transportation to their school of origin. This provision applies even if a student moves outside of the school of origins’ attendance zone or district boundaries. School of origin transportation must continue for the duration of the child’s homelessness or until the end of the school year in which a child becomes permanently housed.

    Transportation Resources

    NCHE Transporting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

  • Students experiencing homelessness have the right to transportation to their school of origin. This provision applies even if a student moves outside of the school of origins’ attendance zone or district boundaries. School of origin transportation must continue for the duration of the child’s homelessness or until the end of the school year in which a child becomes permanently housed.
  • Students experiencing homelessness who are not on a Title-I campus are eligible to receive Title-I services.

    These services are provided at the discretion of the LEA through existing Title-I programs or through the use of Title-I, Part A set-aside funds for students who are not on Title-I campuses. Students on Title-I campuses may receive additional supplemental services to the services being provided on their campus through Title-I, Part A set-asides as well. Services may include personal school supplies, items of clothing that are necessary to meet a school’s dress requirement, immunizations, supplemental counseling services, tutoring, costs associated with credit recovery, or other similar activities to address a child’s opportunity for school success.
     

  • Every Local Education Agency must designate an appropriate staff person as a local homeless education liaison and submit that person's name to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). This information is to be submitted to the AskTED online directory by the LEA's AskTED administrator. AskTED is TEA's online Texas Education Directory (TED). AskTED is the database where homeless education liaison's contact information is maintained.

    The Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Liaison Directory has been imported into the AskTED directory. Your AskTED administrator does not have to resubmit the LEA's homeless education liaison's information if they were previously listed in the TEHCY directory. If you discover information that is out of date or incorrect, updates and/or changes regarding the homeless education liaison's contact information must be submitted to TEA through each LEA's AskTED administrator.

    The information in the TEHCY website directory is updated periodically from the AskTED directory.

    Need help updating AskTED? Check out this handy resource: AskTED Navigation Tool

    Region 17 - District Homeless Liaison Directory
    ABERNATHY ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR RITCHIE THORNTON
    (806) 298-4950
    AMHERST ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR JOEL RODGERS
    (806) 246-3221
    ANTON ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS JIMMI D JOHNSON
    (806) 997-5211
    BETTY M CONDRA SCHOOL FOR EDUCATION INNOVATION
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    ROBIN WILLIAMS
    (806) 993-4040
    BORDEN COUNTY ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS TERESA KUEHLER
    (806) 756-4313 ext:108
    BROWNFIELD ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    ERIN PHILLIPS
    (806) 637-2591 ext:2183
    COTTON CENTER ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    KRISTY KEMP
    (806) 879-2160 ext:135
    CROSBYTON CISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS ALVA RODRIGUEZ
    (806) 675-7331 ext:1207
    DAWSON ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS MELANIE HAYES
    (806) 489-7461
    DENVER CITY ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR ELIZABETH CALK
    (806) 592-5925
    FLOYDADA COLLEGIATE ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS KAYLA WELLS
    (806) 983-5332
    FRENSHIP ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS BRANDI SAVAGE
    (806) 866-9541 ext:237
    GUTHRIE CSD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    CASSIE DANIEL
    (806) 596-4466
    HALE CENTER ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS LEESA GRIMALDO
    (806) 839-2451 ext:103
    IDALOU ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS KRISTEN WATKINS
    (806) 892-1900 ext:1116
    JAYTON-GIRARD ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    DARLA HARRISON
    (806) 237-2991
    KLONDIKE ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR STEVEN MCLAREN
    (806) 462-7334
    LAMESA ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    FRANKIE SAUSEDA
    (806) 872-5461
    LEVELLAND ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS DONNA PUGH
    (806) 894-9628 ext:1218
    LITTLEFIELD ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS AMBER HAYS
    (806) 385-4150
    RACHEL MORENO
    (806) 385-4150
    LOCKNEY ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS OLGA MARTINEZ
    (806) 652-2104
    LOOP ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR MIKE READ
    (806) 319-7546 ext:112
    LORENZO ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    JESSICA CRABB
    (806) 634-5592 ext:257
    LUBBOCK ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    DESTYNEE MORTE
    (806) 219-0456
    LUBBOCK-COOPER ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    JAY WHITEFIELD
    (806) 993-2300
    KRISTA KLEIN
    (806) 993-2322
    MEADOW ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    JASON ATCHESON
    (806) 593-2246
    MORTON ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    RINA RAMOS
    (806) 266-5505 ext:303
    MOTLEY COUNTY ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    DANIEL CATES
    (806) 347-2676
    MULESHOE ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    GREG HILL
    (806) 272-7400
    NEW DEAL ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR RAMIRO HERNANDEZ
    (806) 746-5933 ext:237
    NEW HOME ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS JULIA STEPHEN
    (806) 924-7543
    O'DONNELL ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    TONYA GRAHAM
    (806) 428-3244
    OLTON ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS TERRI - SANDOVAL
    (806) 285-2641 ext:263
    PADUCAH ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS LESLIE HUTCHINSON
    (806) 492-3524 ext:2508
    PATTON SPRINGS ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    LORI CASTRO
    (806) 689-2220 ext:2221
    PETERSBURG ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS CORINA REYES
    (806) 667-3574 ext:322
    PLAINS ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS SHARON MENDEZ
    (806) 456-7401
    PLAINVIEW ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    CLARISSA HURON
    (806) 293-6000
    POST ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR HAYDEN WALTERS
    (806) 495-3414 ext:400
    RALLS ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS MACY CAVAZOS
    (806) 253-2509
    RISE ACADEMY
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR RICHARD BAUMGARTNER
    (806) 744-0438
    ROOSEVELT ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    LINDA HERNANDEZ
    (806) 842-3282 ext:102
    ROPES ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS AMY YOCOM
    (806) 562-4031
    SANDS CISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS TANA HOWARD
    (432) 353-4888
    SEAGRAVES ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS ANGEL DAVILA
    (806) 387-2520 ext:214
    SEMINOLE ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR RICHARD SOLIZ
    (432) 758-3662
    SHALLOWATER ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS SHEILA BURT
    (806) 832-4531
    SLATON ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    SHELLI CONKIN
    (806) 828-6591
    SMYER ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    CHRISTOPHER WADE
    (806) 234-2935 ext:3000
    SOUTHLAND ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MR DUSTY GRANTHAM
    (806) 496-2050
    SPRINGLAKE-EARTH ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    CINDY FURR
    (806) 257-3310
    SPUR ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    LESLEE HINDMAN
    (806) 271-3272 ext:2007
    MS LESLEE HINDMAN
    (806) 271-3385 ext:2013
    SUDAN ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MS KAYELA HARRELL
    (806) 227-2431 ext:114
    SUNDOWN ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS AMANDA DAVIS
    (806) 602-8823 ext:4003
    TAHOKA ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    SHELLY STONE
    (806) 561-4105
    TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY K-12
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    CHARLOTTE WARD
    (806) 834-6671
    TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-LUBBOCK
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    ABIGAIL PORTOCARRERO
    (806) 744-0330
    WELLMAN-UNION CISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    NATE WHEELER
    (806) 637-4910
    WHITEFACE CISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    MRS RACHEL CARTER
    (806) 287-1104 ext:4900
    WHITHARRAL ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    NICK MCCOLLISTER
    (806) 299-1135
    WILSON ISD
    Full Name
    Phone
    Email Address
    BRENT SCOTT
    (806) 628-6261
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Texas is dedicated to ensuring that students in foster care have the support they need to succeed academically and beyond. Central to this commitment is a strong foundation of cross-system collaboration between education agencies, child welfare professionals, and community partners. At the heart of these efforts are designated foster care points of contact at the local and regional levels, who play a vital role in coordinating services, removing barriers, and advocating for student success.

  • Collaboration between the education and child welfare system is an important component to improve the education outcomes of students who experience foster care. The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 encourages coordination between education and child welfare.

    The guiding principles below assist in guidance of successful collaborative and coordinated efforts amongst education, child welfare and community partners:

    # 1: Children and youth in care are entitled to remain in the same school when feasible.

    # 2: Children and youth in care experience seamless transitions between schools.

    # 3: Young children in care receive services and interventions to be ready to learn.

    # 4: Children and youth in care have the opportunity and support to fully participate in all developmentally appropriate activities and all aspects of the education experience.

    # 5: Children and youth in care have supports to prevent school dropout, truancy, and disciplinary actions, and to reengage in the education experience.

    # 6: Children and youth in care are involved, empowered, and prepared to self-advocate in all aspects of their education.

    # 7: Children and youth in care have consistent adult support to advocate for and make education decisions.

    # 8: Children and youth in care have support to enter and complete post-secondary education.

     
  • Each school district and open-enrollment charter school in Texas is required to appoint at least one employee to act as a Foster Care Liaison. Both districts and open-enrollment charter schools must submit their Foster Care Liaison's name and contact information to TEA. 

    • • Facilitate the enrollment in or transfer to a public or open-enrollment charter school of any child in the district or area served by the charter school who is in the conservatorship of the state (TEC §33.904).

      • Advocate for the needs of students in foster care.

      • Coordinate with various school personnel and departments to ensure the required supports, practices, and best-practice strategies for serving students in foster care are implemented within School Systems.

      • May coordinate with the Title I director, transportation director, McKinney-Vento Homeless liaison, dropout prevention/at-risk coordinator, special education staff, and other federal program staff to coordinate ESSA and other requirements for students in foster care within their School Systems. 

      • May coordinate with individual campuses, community services agencies, caregivers, local colleges, and advocates involved with the child welfare system. 

      See Chapter Five of the Foster Care & Student Success Resource Guide for more information on Foster Care Liaison duties. 

       

    • School Systems must submit Foster Care Liaison contact information to TEA through AskTED, a real-time public database where each school district and charter school's foster care liaison is listed.

      • Districts must submit their liaison information to TEA through the district’s AskTED administrator.

      • For charter schools, please complete the All-In-One Charter Update Form for any AskTED updates. More information can be found here for Charter Schools.

      • Include your liaison’s name, email address, and phone and fax numbers.  This information will be added to the AskTED directory.

      School Systems should review this information annually. Contact your district's AskTED administrator or TEA's Charter School Division immediately if there are any changes.

      You can view and download foster care liaison information in AskTED. Information is available by district, region, and county. For step-by-step instructions with pictures of how to view and download a current list of foster care liaisons in AskTED, please follow the guidelines for how to find the foster care liaison contact information in AskTED.

       

PRS provides guidance, resources, and support services that help students remain enrolled, engaged, and on track to graduate.

PRS includes both Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI)—a required academic support for eligible students during prenatal and postpartum periods—and a range of optional support services such as counseling, health services, transportation, and parenting education. These services are designed to address the unique challenges faced by pregnant and parenting students, ensuring they receive equitable access to education and the resources needed to thrive.

By empowering districts to implement comprehensive PRS programs, TEA aims to reduce dropout risks, promote student resilience, and foster long-term academic and personal success.

PRS FAQs

  • PRS services are delivered under the following circumstances:

     

    • When a student is pregnant and attending classes on a district campus.
    • When the pregnancy or prenatal period prevents the student from attending classes on a district campus.
    • When the postpartum recovery period prevents the student from attending classes on a district campus.

  • Voluntary Program: Districts may choose whether to offer a PRS program. However, if a district elects to provide PRS, it must include CEHI as a required component.

    Mandatory CEHI: CEHI is the only required service under PRS. A district may not code a student as PRS in the attendance accounting system unless CEHI is provided. Optional support services may be offered in addition to CEHI but cannot substitute for it.

Who Are Military-Connected Students?

Texas is home to one of the largest populations of military-connected students in the nation:

  • Over 240,000 military-connected students are enrolled in Texas public and open-enrollment charter schools.

  • Every school region in Texas has identified military-connected students.

  • On average, military-connected children move 6 to 9 times during their K–12 education.

  • Approximately 30% of these students are between the ages of 6 and 11.

  • Children from military families are twice as likely as their civilian peers to serve in the Armed Forces as adults.


Military-Connected Professional Training Opportunities

The MCS Program is proud to offer training opportunities to build capacity, collaboration, and strengthen support systems across Texas.

Supporting Military-Connected Students in Texas

Purple Star Rise

 

Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3) helps ensure smooth transitions for military-connected students moving between states. The Compact addresses key educational issues, such as enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation. Learn more about MIC3.

Purple Star Campus Designation (PSCD)

The Purple Star Campus Designation recognizes Texas public schools that show their support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. More information here.

State Advisory Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

Established by the 87th Texas Legislature, the State Advisory Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children fosters collaboration among state agencies, school districts, and military installations. The Council supports Texas' commitment to the Interstate Compact, helping ensure smooth educational transitions for military-connected students and families. Learn more about State Advisory Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Military-Connected Educator, Student and Family Resources

For additional resources to suport military-connected students and their families visit the TEA Military Family Resources web page. 

 

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