McKinney-Vento

What is McKinney-Vento?

The McKinney-Vento Act is a U.S. federal law ensuring homeless children and youth have immediate access to free public education, removing enrollment barriers, providing transportation to their "school of origin," and offering educational support to ensure stability and success, defining homelessness broadly to include living in cars, shelters, motels, or doubling up due to economic hardship, with school districts required to have liaisons to coordinate services for these students.

Key Provisions

Free & Appropriate Public Education (FAPE): Homeless students have a right to attend school without fees or extra documentation.
Immediate Enrollment: Students must be enrolled right away, even without records.
** School of Origin:** Students can stay in their original school (or a comparable one) for stability, with transportation provided if requested.
Support Services: Access to tutoring, supplies, and other services needed for academic success.
Local Liaisons: Each school district must have a dedicated liaison to identify, enroll, and support homeless students.