Join McKinney-Vento liaisons, attendance leaders, administrators, and community partners to explore strategies for identifying and addressing attendance barriers faced by students experiencing homelessness. Topics discussed: 

• McKinney-Vento rights and eligibility, attendance as an early warning sign, common barriers, transportation and school stability support, practical attendance interventions.  

• Recognizing attendance patterns, engaging families, identifying housing-related needs, and connecting students to community resources. 

• The connection between housing instability and chronic absenteeism and the importance of attendance - Rhode Island's Regional Access Points (RAPs) will provide an overview of housing assessments, stabilization support, transportation assistance, referral processes, and successful school-community partnerships. The RAPs are centralized, local hubs in Rhode Island that provide individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness with access to housing, emergency shelter, and supportive services.