ESSA-Related Changes for M-V Students Pursuing Higher Education

I. Preparing for Higher Education: “Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program Non-Regulatory Guidance”

  • Transitioning to Higher Education: ESSA now requires that all McKinney-Vento(MV) eligible youth must be able to receive individualized counseling from counselors to prepare and improve their readiness for college, including college selection, application, financial aid, and ongoing campus supports.(Non-Regulatory Guidance Q-1).
  • Liaisons must ensure unaccompanied MV youth are informed of their FAFSA status as independent students and obtain verification of that status.(Non-Regulatory Guidance Q-2).
  • A local liaison may continue to provide verification of a youth’s status as both unaccompanied and homeless, or as self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, for federal student aid purposes for as long as the liaison has access to the information necessary to make such a determination for a particular youth. (Non-Regulatory Guidance Q-2).

II. Roles of Applicants and Institutions:“Dear Colleague Letter (July 29, 2015)”

  • Institutions of Higher Education (IHE’s) are not required to verify answers provided on the FAFSA. If the IHE has conflicting information, a documented phone call or written statement should suffice. Financial Aid Advisors (FAA’s) should limit inquiry as to whether the applicant is homeless and should request evidence of homelessness, not information why a student is homeless.
  • FAA’s are required to make a homeless youth determination in the cases when a student makes a request for that status. If an institution has no conflicting information about the status of a student, the institution should not request additional documentation, proof, or statements.
  • It revises USDE policy so that all applicants under age 24, including those who are 22 or 23 years old, and who are unaccompanied and homeless, or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, qualify for a homeless youth determination and will be considered independent students.
  • Homeless students may use any reliable mailing address, including the school’s address as long as they have contacted the school for permission and instructions for insuring that mail they receive at the school reaches them. If they acquire permanent housing, they should update their FAFSA address.

III. “Early (October 1) FAFSA Date May Assist Homeless Youth Applicant”

  • The former January date fell frequently during winter breaks when assistance for homeless youth filling out the FAFSA was likely not available;
  • The earlier date provides an opportunity for homeless students to know earlier what their financial aid information would be, supporting better decision-making in college choice;
  • The earlier date allows working students or their parents to provide “prior-prior” tax information whereas, in the past, students might be unable to finish the FAFSA because tax information was not yet available.
  • This year, students will need to complete both the October and January applications for the 2017-2018 school year; however tax information from 2015 will be used for both applications;
  • FAFSA applications will be completed in approximately the same time as college admissions applications, enabling earlier access to need-based scholarships that require a completed FAFSA.

For more information, see:

1) The Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO):

2) The Higher Education section of The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY):

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