McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homelessness as lacking a "fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The primary goals for the McKinney-Vento program are to ensure that each homeless student has equal access to public education and help remove any barriers toward student success.
According to McKinney-Vento, the definition of "homeless children and youth" means an individual who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. It includes:
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement.
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
- Migrant children who live in the above mentioned conditions
- Attend school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless. Children cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.
- Choose between the local school where they are living or the school last attended before becoming homeless, when feasible.
- Enroll in school without proof of residency, immunizations, school records, or other documents.
- When attending the school of origin is determined feasible, the parent or guardian may request transportation to the school of origin.
- Receive all the school services available to other students.
Contact the district's Homeless Coordinator to assist you with arranging services and meeting your needs.
Parents should do the following:
- contact the district's Homeless Coordinator to keep your child in the school they were attending before you moved or to receive assistance with enrollment in your child's new school
- contact your school to discuss needs to help your child succeed
- ask the Homeless Coordinator for assistance to secure food, clothing, and school supplies.
The Homeless Education Program explains rights and helps provide the following services at no cost
- enrollment assistance, including obtaining required school and medical records such as immunization
- transportation (when eligible)
- free breakfast/lunch
- tutorial programs
- waiver of school fees
- referral to social service agencies, community resources, and other related services available to homeless families in need
- assistance with the appeal process if you feel your rights have been denied.