Student Homelessness and Urban Charter Schools: Leadership Logics and the McKinney-Vento Liaison Role

Abstract

This study investigates how charter schools in California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island interpret and operationalize the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MVA) liaison role, which mandates schools to identify and support students experiencing homelessness. Using a mixed-method design that combines content analysis of 325 liaison listings with interviews from 26 urban charter school leaders and liaisons, this study examines how organizational structure, leadership assignment, and institutional capacity shape implementation. Findings show that most charter schools in the sample assign the liaison role to administrators or operations staff, positions commonly associated with compliance and institutional coordination. In the focal cases, schools that embedded the role within family engagement or student services demonstrated stronger relational access and collaboration with families. The paper illustrates how charter schools’ autonomy and nonprofit flexibility can be leveraged to build community-driven supports for students experiencing homelessness. Findings also demonstrate how unclear role design and limited training can contribute to inequities in access and responsiveness.