For Parents and Caregivers of McKinney-Vento-Eligible Students

All public schools have a McKinney-Vento liaison (sometimes called a homeless liaison) is responsible for determining eligibility. Liaisons are trained by ECYEH regional staff to ask questions related to your housing status. To make a determination, liaisons must consider 1) the type of residence, 2) whether the residence is fixed, regular, and adequate, and 3) the event that led to this housing arrangement. 

Step 1: Where is the family/student currently residing? 

The McKinney-Vento Act lists several living situations that may be eligible. Those include: 

• Emergency or transitional shelters

• Hotels/motels

• Campgrounds, due to the lack of alternative accommodations

• Sharing the housing of others due to the loss of your housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

• Public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus/train stations, or similar substandard housing

Step 2: Is the residence fixed, regular, or adequate? 

A family/student may lack only one of the three: a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence. In other words, the family may be staying somewhere that is fixed and regular but is deemed inadequate and therefore could potentially qualify as McKinney-Vento-eligible. 

Fixed: A home that is stationary and permanent. 

• A tent, car, RV, or other nonstationary structure would not be considered a fixed residence. 

Regular: A home that the family is allowed to use on a consistent basis.

• For example, a week-to-week change in residence would be flagged as irregular. If a family isn't listed on a signed lease or mortgage, it may not be regular. 

Adequate: A home that suitably meets the physical and psychological needs of the family.

• A home that lacks basic needs such as heat, water, and electricity, lacks sufficient space for the family unit or poses a hazard due to the presence of mold, vermin, bedbugs, etc., could be considered inadequate. 

Step 3: Determining the event 

It is particularly important to understand the event when making determinations for families living in campgrounds/RV parks and those that are sharing the housing of others. The law is clear that these arrangements must be due to the lack of alternative accommodations, the loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons. 

If you believe your student is McKinney-Vento eligible, you should connect with your school's liaison. They, or their team, will confirm your eligibility, assess your student's needs, set up any necessary support services within the school district, and provide you with community resource referrals as needed. 

Every public school district has a designated liaison. Find yours here: https://directory.center-school.org/homeless 

The McKinney-Vento Act affords students experiencing housing instability a series of protections to promote educational stability and attendance in public schools. The Act applies to all public schools including traditional brick-and-mortar districts, charter schools, and cyber charter schools. It does not apply to students attending private institutions. McKinney-Vento eligible students have the right to:

1. Continue attending their current public school, OR transfer to the public school where they are temporarily housed.

   1. 1. • This decision is made with your student’s best interest in mind. Ultimately, the preferences of the parent, or in the case of unaccompanied youth, the student, must be prioritized. Your school’s McKinney-Vento liaison may discuss factors for you to consider when making this decision, including the student’s grade, commute distance, and connection to their current school. 

2. Enroll immediately, even if lacking the paperwork normally required.

• Your student will be allowed to enroll and attend classes immediately, even if you don’t have documents such as proof of residency, forms of identification, or immunization records. The school will try to help you obtain any missing documents. 

3. Receive transportation to and from school and school-sponsored extracurriculars.

• The school will arrange transportation for your student as soon as possible. This could include providing a school bus or other school vehicle, helping access to public transportation, or supporting you in driving your student using your vehicle. 

4. Participate in all applicable school programs, including supplemental services and special education.

• Your student can participate in any school-sponsored program or activity for which they are eligible. If you face difficulties paying fees, purchasing equipment, or encountering other challenges related to housing instability, the school must help remove these barriers. 

5. Receive free school meals.

• If the school participates in the national school lunch program, your student will receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of your family's income level. 

6. Receive assistance with school-related expenses such as supplies, clothing/ uniforms, etc. 

• You may request support with school clothing, school supplies, or other items necessary for your student’s participation in school. 

7. Remain free from stigmatization by school personnel.

• Your child may not be discriminated against or segregated in the school setting based on their housing status.

8. Receive information about resources available to you, if requested.

• If your family needs additional resources such as food, clothing, housing, early childhood education programs, and medical/dental care, you may request referrals.

9. Initiate a dispute for eligibility or school selection determinations made by the school. 

• If your student is denied McKinney-Vento eligibility or enrollment, you will receive a written notice explaining the decision. You will also receive information about how to dispute this decision and your student’s rights during this process. 

If you believe your student is McKinney-Vento-eligible and your student's school has denied their eligibility or enrollment, you have the right to file a dispute. A dispute may be submitted directly to your student's school, to a Regional Coordinator, or the State Coordinator. The Pennslyvania Department of Education reccomends completing this dispute letter:

• Dispute Letter (English PDF)

• Dispute Letter (Spanish PDF)

For more information, visit: Dispute Resolution Process | Department of Education | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

If you have school-age students who have been identified by their school's liaison, you have the right to receive referrals to early childhood education programs, if you request them. 

As McKinney-Vento-eligible, your child is eligible to enroll in Head Start or Early Head Start and may be eligible for PreK-Counts programs in your area.* Priority funding may also be available for childcare subsidies through your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). 

Some, but not all, early childhood programs are required to provide additional rights per the McKinney-Vento Act. To find out if your student's early childhood program is a McKinney-Vento preschool, contact your school's liaison or our regional office.

*(Waitlists and other eligibility requirements may still apply)

Your school's liaison is required to support your family's unique needs by providing referrals to local community resources or connecting you with any resources available within the school. You can also search for local resources using the Finding Your Way in PA app.