What is McKinney Vento?

McKinney Vento is a federal law (a part of the No Child Left Behind legislation) protecting students identified as homeless in public schools. This law protects eligible students from discrimination and seeks to eliminate barriers to a student's education. It is estimated that students who change school districts are set back 4-6 months academically. This law seeks to provide a stable and consistent education for these students.

Who is eligible under McKinney Vento?

Students living in a temporary or inadequate living situation due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.

Temporary or inadequate living situations may include:

• doubled-up housing with other families or friends due to hardship;

• runaway/homeless youth shelters (even if parents invite the youth home);

• hotels or motels;

• shelters, including domestic violence shelters;

• transitional housing shelters;

• cars, abandoned buildings parks, the streets or other public spaces;

• campgrounds or inadequate trailer homes

• abandoned in a hospital.

What services are available under McKinney Vento?

• Immediate school enrollment

• Free lunches for the duration of the school year

• Transportation to and from their school of origin (with available resources, some may be limited)

• School supplies

Unaccompanied Youth:

An unaccompanied youth is a youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and is also identified as homeless according to the criteria above. These youth may not be in the custody of a parent or guardian for a variety of reasons. Unaccompanied youth may enroll in school without a parent or guardian.

Homeless Liaison:

The School Social Worker is the Homeless Liaison at White County School System. The Homeless Liaison is charged with enforcing state and federal protections for homeless students and may be contacted with issues regarding enrolling or maintaining attendance for students experiencing homelessness.

The liaison is responsible for:

• • identification of homeless children and youth (by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies);

  • facilitate enrollment and participation to obtain equal opportunity and success in school;

  • ensure that educational services for which such families are eligible (including Head Start). The parents and guardians of homeless children and youth get informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children;

  • outreach - public notices of the educational rights of homeless children and youth is disseminated;

  • enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance;

  • assist the unaccompanied youth with enrollment, obtaining records, and information regarding their rights under the law.