The Homeless Liaison
(officially a Local Educational Agency McKinney-Vento Liaison) is a mandated school district staff member responsible for ensuring that homeless children and youth are identified, immediately enrolled, and supported to succeed academically under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Core Responsibilities of the Foster Care Liaison
Educational Placement & Enrollment: Ensure and facilitate the proper educational placement, immediate enrollment, and school checkout for students in foster care.
Record & Credit Transfers: Assist foster care students when transferring between schools or districts by ensuring the prompt and proper transfer of academic credits, grades, and cumulative records.
Record Requests: Request school records for incoming foster care students within two business days of their placement in a new school under Section 167.022, RSMo.
DESE & Children’s Division (CD) Coordination: Serve as the primary point of contact for DESE and the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services.
Best Interest Determination (BID): Participate in and help coordinate child-centered BID team meetings to decide whether a student should remain in their School of Origin (SOO) or transfer to a new school.
Complaint Resolution: Work alongside DESE and the Children’s Division to implement and support the state's foster care complaint resolution process.
Advisory & Advocacy: Act in an advisory capacity for school staff, foster parents, and caseworkers regarding the Foster Care Education Bill of Rights (Section 167.018, RSMo).