State Coordinators’ Handbook
The State Coordinators’ Handbook is an essential resource designed to support administrators responsible for their Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program. This comprehensive guide provides strategies, practices, and information to help state coordinators implement the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and lead programs that go beyond compliance to serve children and youth experiencing homelessness. Whether you are new to the role or an experienced state coordinator, this Handbook offers guidance across the full spectrum of responsibilities—from understanding foundational concepts and legislative requirements to managing subgrants, providing technical assistance, collecting and using data, and building effective collaborative partnerships.
This Handbook is organized into four sections covering 13 chapters:
Section A: Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Overview of the State Coordinator Role
Section B: Foundations for Your Work
Chapter 3: Understanding Homelessness
Chapter 4: Organization of the EHCY Program
Chapter 5: Understanding the McKinney-Vento Act
Section C: State Coordinator Key Responsibilities
Chapter 6: Technical Assistance and Training to Support LEAs and Local Liaisons
Chapter 7: Managing McKinney-Vento LEA Subgrants
Chapter 8: Collecting and Using Data
Chapter 9: LEA Monitoring
Chapter 10: Purposeful Collaboration
Chapter 11: Managing Disputes
Section D: Managing the Work
Chapter 12: Assessing Needs for Program Improvement
Chapter 13: Planning the Work and Working Your Plan
Date Published: December 2025