Gujardo, Miguel A.Cunningham, Keith A.2013-09-062013-09-062013-08Cunningham, K. A. (2013). <i>The role of public policy in the educational lives of our most vulnerable youth: The McKinney-Vento Act and homeless children a critical policy ethnography</i> (Unpublished dissertation). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/4711This critical policy ethnography analyzes the McKinney-Vento Act and the impact it has on the lives of homeless youth. Data comes from conversations with research partners situated in various key roles within the McKinney-Vento bureaucracy and the researcher's experience as an educator and participant observer at a homeless shelter and school as well as conversations at district and state level administrative offices. Analysis was informed by an ethic of care framework and a historiography was created to chronicle the policy's genealogy, intent, and guiding values. Utilizing an open systems model and creative nonfiction, the findings are presented in a deliberate effort that puts a human face to the families the policy impacts. Major findings and recommendations include a need for increased awareness and compliance monitoring of the policy as well as an investment of additional resources to adequately respond to McKinney-Vento issues throughout the public education system.Text221 pages1 file (.pdf)enEducation of homeless youthCritical policy analysisCritical ethnographyEducational policyActivist researchHomeless children--Education--United StatesUnited States--McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance ActHomeless students--Services for----United StatesHomeless youth--Education----United StatesDissertation