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Overview
Overview
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law first enacted in 1987, outlines that every school district is to ensure that students who are experiencing homelessness or displaced have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to all other students. The Act was reauthorized in December 2015 as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Families with school-age children who qualify under McKinney-Vento have the right to:
Enroll in school immediately, even without records or documents (such as immunization records, birth certificate, proof of residency, or school transcripts) normally required for enrollment
Remain in their school of origin — the school they attended before becoming homeless, or in which they were last enrolled — for as long as they remain homeless, or through the end of the academic year in which they become permanently housed, if the parent/guardian chooses
Receive transportation to and from their school of origin, at the request of the parent/guardian or the district's homeless liaison
Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, including free meals and, if eligible, access to early intervention preschool programs
Participate fully in school programs, activities, field trips, and extracurricular activities
Get help resolving a dispute about school placement or enrollment, with the student remaining enrolled in their requested school while the dispute is resolved.
Contact Information:
Lacey Julsrud, Transitional Student Support Coordinator
Eligibility: Who Qualifies?
Under McKinney-Vento, a homeless child or youth is someone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes children and youth who:
Are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes called "doubling up")
Are living in motels, hotels, substandard trailer parks, or campgrounds due to a lack of adequate alternative housing
Are living in an emergency or transitional shelter
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
Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
Are migratory children living in any of the circumstances described above
Are abandoned in hospitals
Are unaccompanied youth — a homeless child or youth for whom no parent or guardian is available
Tips for School Success
Connect with homeless liaison and/or school social worker. We can assist you with getting connected to community resources and agencies that may be able to help.
Continue to keep the homeless liaison informed of changes in address so that we can help facilitate setting up transportation to ensure that your child is able to attend school regularly.
Let the teacher/school know the best way to reach you (phone or written notes) to ensure ongoing communication regarding academic progress.
Make sure to attend school every day.
Parents/Caregivers: Ask your child what he/she is learning in school; If you show interest in your child’s education, he /she will know it is important.
Participate in extra-curricular activities.
Resources
click on the links below for additional information
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