New York State Education Law Section 3209, Education of Homeless Children

NYS Education Law Section 3209 describes the rights of students in temporary housing in New York State.

Important changes to New York Education Law Section 3209 went into effect on April 20, 2017. The changes to this law reflect changes to the federal McKinney-Vento Act that were made under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Below, along with the link to download the new text of the law, you will find a link to a marked-up version of Education Law § 3209 that highlights the changes.

NY Education Law § 3209 (PDF)

Marked-Up (Redline) Version (PDF)

Highlighted Resources

GUIDES & FACT SHEETS

HIGHLIGHTED RESOURCES

Early Care and Education Services for Children Experiencing Homelessness

This guide by the NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) provides information on determining eligibility for children in temporary housing, and their rights and protections. You can also find a handy chart where community-specific information about early care and education programs can be included and then shared with parents.

GUIDES & FACT SHEETS

HIGHLIGHTED RESOURCES

Tip Sheet: Navigating Challenging Conversations

NYS-TEACHS

This tip sheet from NYS-TEACHS guides the user through best practices for having conversations about housing status with families. We provide best practices for common scenarios.

FORMS & TEMPLATES

HIGHLIGHTED RESOURCES

Caregiver Authorization Form

School districts may develop a caregiver form that establishes the responsibilities of caregivers and requests caregivers’ contact information in place of traditional proof of guardianship for unaccompanied youth. This form is not required, but may be helpful to schools and to students.