Right now, more than 1.4 million children and youth across the U.S.—including more than 42,000 in Washington state—are experiencing homelessness while enrolled in public school. Imagine being a student trying to stay focused on learning while living in and out of shelters, motels, or cars. For these students, education is not just a pathway to opportunity—it’s a lifeline. And for decades, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act has protected the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness, connecting them with support and providing hope.
McKinney-Vento helps students stay connected to school by removing common barriers—like missing paperwork, frequent moves, or lack of transportation and supplies. School districts rely on McKinney-Vento funding to identify and assist students, train dedicated homeless liaisons, and connect families with community services. It’s a federal investment that protects access to education for students who too often face the steepest barriers.
But now, that protection is under serious threat.
The Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget would eliminate dedicated funding for the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program. The proposal would consolidate McKinney-Vento and 17 other education programs into a single $2 billion block grant—a drastic cut from the current $6.5 billion across these programs. States and school districts would no longer be required to use these funds to support students experiencing homelessness, effectively ending targeted protections and services that these students rely on.
While “flexibility” sounds appealing, block grants rarely guarantee that funds reach students facing the greatest barriers. Past experience shows that without dedicated funding, support for students experiencing homelessness is often deprioritized—especially when schools face competing budget pressures. Instead of dedicated resources for transportation, outreach, or liaisons, schools could redirect funds elsewhere, leaving homeless students invisible and unsupported.
What This Means for Washington State
Here in Washington, where the number of unhoused students has surged to the highest level ever recorded, the consequences would be immediate and far-reaching.
In the 2022–2023 school year, 42,436 students in Washington’s K–12 public schools were identified as experiencing homelessness. Data from our recent report, Students Experiencing Homelessness in Washington’s K–12 Public Schools: 2016–2023 Trends, Characteristics, and Academic Outcomes, shows that these students face disproportionate challenges in attendance, academic achievement, and graduation rates. They are also more likely to be suspended or disciplined, even as they navigate the daily impact of housing instability. The same data show that these hardships hit even harder for BIPOC students, who are disproportionately represented among students experiencing homelessness.
Without McKinney-Vento funding, schools across the state would face serious setbacks in their ability to identify and support students. That includes:
- Reduced identification efforts: Without funding for outreach and trained staff, fewer students will be recognized—and if students aren’t identified, they miss out on the basic services that help them stay enrolled, like transportation, tutoring, and free meals.
- Loss of transportation support: McKinney-Vento currently ensures students can stay in their original school—even after a housing move—by providing transportation assistance. Without it, more students would be forced to switch schools mid-year, disrupting learning and relationships.
- Barriers to enrollment: McKinney-Vento removes hurdles like paperwork requirements, which often delay or prevent enrollment for students in crisis. That protection would disappear.
- Increased risk of dropping out: Students experiencing homelessness already face higher absenteeism and lower academic outcomes. Losing these supports would make it even harder for them to stay in school and graduate.
- Widening equity gaps: Washington’s Homeless Student Stability Education Program (HSSP) provides important state-level support but was never meant to replace federal protections. Without McKinney-Vento, opportunity gaps and disparities in achievement—especially for BIPOC students—will only continue to grow.
The 2026 proposal would also eliminate Title I Part A protections for students in foster care and students experiencing homelessness—cutting off access to additional federal, state, and local education resources. The outcome? Greater instability, higher dropout rates, and long-term setbacks in education and economic mobility.
What’s at Stake for Unhoused Students
It’s important to remember: the president’s budget is just a proposal. Congress will ultimately decide whether to uphold or dismantle these protections. But the intent behind this proposal is clear—and so is the risk if we remain silent.
The EHCY program is funded at just $129 million—less than one percent of the federal K–12 education budget. Yet its return on investment is enormous: keeping students in school, connected to their peers, and supported through crisis. Eliminating this dedicated funding would dismantle the very systems that ensure students without stable housing have a fair chance to learn.
Washington’s education and housing advocates have led the way in developing solutions to support unhoused students. But we can’t do it alone. The protections of McKinney-Vento are essential, not optional.
What You Can Do
We urge Washington advocates, educators, families, and community partners to take action:
- Contact your members of Congress to oppose the elimination of McKinney-Vento funding.
- Share data and stories from your district to show the real impact of these protections.
- If you are a McKinney-Vento liaison, school support staff or community-based organization that supports students experiencing homelessness in Washington, join our School/Housing Network.
- Advocate for youth experiencing homelessness by supporting organizations leading the charge.
Now is the time to speak up. If we want to ensure that every student—no matter their housing status—has a real chance to succeed, we must stand up for the supports and stability they deserve.
If you are a McKinney-Vento liaison, school support staff, or someone that has benefited from the McKinney-Vento program, we’d like to hear your story! Please contact Building Changes Communications Specialist to help us advocate for this critical program.
