The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that ensures the right of students to go to school even when they are homeless or don’t have a permanent address. The Act aims to reduce barriers that have prevented many homeless youth from enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school,

Watertown City School District is dedicated to identification and immediate enrollment of students who are experiencing homelessness on a case-by-case basis .

The District ensures that all students have access to the same free and appropriate public education (FAPE), including preschool education, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.

A student who lacks a fixed, adequate and regular nighttime residence.

A “fixed” residence is one that is stationary, permanent and not subject to change.

An “adequate” residence is one that is sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments.

A “regular” residence is one which is used on a nightly basis.

Living in emergency or transitional shelters;

Share housing due to loss of housing or economic hardship (“doubled-up”);

Live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camp grounds due to lack of alternative adequate housing;

Are awaiting foster care placement;

Are abandoned in hospitals;

Live in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or bus or train stations;

Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations;

Are migratory children living in circumstances described above.