McKinney Vento Information

The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states to support district programs that serve homeless students. PA Leadership Charter School works closely with families to ensure consistency in school enrollment and attendance while offering assistance to connect to in-school supports and identify local community-based support available to access needed resources and stabilize their living situations. 

McKinney-Vento Act

Children and youth are eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act if they have been displaced from their homes and are living in a place that is not fixed, regular, or adequate, such as: 

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

• In a place not designated as regular sleeping accommodation, such as a vehicle, park, hotel, or campground 

• In a homeless or domestic violence shelter or transitional housing placement 

• Outside of his/her home as an unaccompanied youth 

• In any of the situations listed above as the child of a migrant family 

Click here to download a copy of the McKinney-Vento Act

Your Rights

Children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to: 

• Continue their education in their current school, and receive transportation OR enroll immediately in the school where they are temporarily housed, even if lacking the paperwork normally required 

• Assistance in locating food, medical or dental services/resources (eyeglasses, hearing aids, immunizations etc.)

• Fees for AP and IB testing

• Fees for college entrance exams such as SAT or ACT

• Participate in all applicable school programs, including supplemental services 

• Receive assistance with school-related expenses

NOTE: These rights also apply to children younger than "school-aged" (Ages 0-5) related to Early Childhood Education Programs and Assistance, which may include: Early Intervention, HeadStart/Early HeadStart, Pre-K Counts, and Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs). These programs are available in every county in PA.
If you need assistance exploring these resources for your younger children, please reach out to our PALCS Community Resource Liaison.

Click here for a printable version (*Highly Recommended, Easy-to-Read Info Booklet)

Click Here for Parents & Students Resource from ECYEH

Click Here for PDE Homeless Education Information

Click here for PA Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program: Region 2

Click here to explore "Does my living situation meet the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness?" from SchoolHouse Connection (Also: PDF Version in English / Spanish)

Sesame Street: Tips for Parents for talking to children about homelessness

PALCS Assistance

If you are currently experiencing homelessness or would like more information on community resources in your area please contact our PALCS Community Resource Liaison, Alicia Ryberg.

Email: aryberg@palcs.org
Phone: 484-883-5448

PALCS Board-Approved Homeless Student Policy here.

PALCS Community Closet

The PALCS Community Closet is available to the entire PALCS community as a means of providing additional support for those in need. The closet is largely donation based, therefore what is currently available will vary. 

The closet is typically filled with: clothing, hygiene/personal care items, school supplies, baby  supplies, non-perishable foods, etc. 

Click Here for more information on the PALCS Community Closet

PALCS Community Resource Center

The purpose of the PALCS Community Resource Center is to provide community information and resources to our families and students throughout the state of Pennsylvania. We encourage you to explore the Virtual Community Resource Center to see what support is available to you and your family:

Click Here to visit our PALCS Community Resource Center