Madison Community Unit School District #12
McKinney Vento Program
Education of Homeless Children
Each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, as provided to other children and youth. A homeless child may attend the District School that the child attended when permanently housed or in which the child was last enrolled. A homeless child living in any district school’s attendance area may attend that school.
Homeless Children-Who are they?
A homeless child/youth is one who lacks a “fixed, regular and adequate nighttime place of abode.” In general, children or youth living in welfare hotels, transitional housing, shelters, the streets, cars, abandoned buildings, and other inadequate facilities are considered homeless. This includes the following groups:
Children in Shelters
Doubled-up Children (living with another family due to lack of permanent
residence)
Migratory Children (if accommodations are not fit for habitation)
Runaway Children (children who have run away from home and live in a shelter, doubled up at another residence, or inadequate housing accommodations, even if parents are willing to provide a home.
Lockouts(children whose parents or guardians will not permit them to live at home.
Homeless Children-What are their Rights?
The Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, as part of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act ensures that homeless children the right to:
a free, appropriate public education with free lunch
choice to stay at school of origin (school last attended or school attended when child lost permanent housing) or attend the school nearest to their shelter or temporary residence.
Immediate enrollment even medical records cannot be produced at the time of enrollment
Receive assistance with transportation if needed
Priority status to attend preschool programs
McKinney Vento Local Liaison-Linda Hylla, 618-8771712 ext. 6545
McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act authorizes the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth(EHCY) program and is the primary piece of federal legislation related to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. It was reauthorized in December 2015 by IX Part A, of the Every Student Succeeds Act(ESSA).