Q&A From the Field

Attendance and Absenteeism

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Attendance and Absenteeism

Referring an unaccompanied homeless youth to truancy court should be a last resort, and only after fully implementing the protections and supports required by the McKinney-Vento Act. 

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, local educational agencies (LEAs) must identify and address barriers to school attendance for students experiencing homelessness, including barriers due to outstanding fees, fines, or absences [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(I)]. Barriers may include lack of transportation, unstable housing, unmet basic needs (food, clothing, hygiene), safety concerns, or mental and behavioral health challenges. LEAs must work to eliminate these barriers, including providing transportation if needed, before initiating truancy proceedings [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(I), (g)(7)].

Absences directly related to homelessness should not be treated as unexcused for truancy purposes. 

If the LEA has:

  • Fully identified and removed all homelessness-related barriers;
  • Provided all appropriate McKinney-Vento supports and interventions;
  • And determined that ongoing absences are not related to homelessness;

then the district may proceed with its normal truancy process, in accordance with state and local law. Even in such cases, we encourage liaisons to remain involved to advocate for trauma-informed, supportive responses in any court or legal proceedings. Truancy court alone is unlikely to resolve the underlying issues leading to absenteeism for homeless youth.

Finally, ongoing cross-agency collaboration (including with juvenile courts where appropriate) can often yield better outcomes than court referrals alone. State Coordinators are specifically required to coordinate with agencies that serve homeless children and youth, including juvenile courts [42 U.S.C. § 11432(f)(4)(B)].

For practical strategies and interventions to address absenteeism prior to court involvement, see 10 Key Strategies To Improve Attendance for Students Experiencing Homelessness, a publication created by SchoolHouse Connection in partnership with Attendance Works. 

Additional resources from SchoolHouse Connection include: