Texas public school districts identified 113,063 students who experienced homelessness during the 2014-2015 school year (approximately 2% of public school students in the state), including 12,1011 unaccompanied homeless students.11 This is an increase from the number of homeless students identified and reported by Texas school districts in previous years, partially due to improved data collection and reporting methods for homeless students.12 The previously mentioned LBB issue brief highlighted the number of homeless students identified in Texas during the 2014-2015 school year and the state and federal legal protections designed to facilitate their educational success. There has been little discussion at the state policy level, however, regarding perspectives of Texas’ homeless liaisons and whether they report having the resources and support needed to implement provisions of state and federal law.

To better understand the circumstances of Texas students who are homeless and those who serve them, TNOYS conducted a survey of homeless liaisons throughout the state in August 2016. The survey was developed by TNOYS, with input from researchers at the University of Houston and a number of homeless liaisons who volunteered to pilot the survey. The purpose of this policy brief is to share findings from TNOYS’ survey and offer insight into how Texas can best support homeless liaisons as they work to ensure that legal protections for homeless students are met. The report also offers policy recommendations on how to better serve youth experiencing homelessness in Texas.