EDUCATION RIGHTS OF HOMELESS/TRANSITIONAL CHILDREN AND YOUTH
(McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act)
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act was authorized by Congress, December 2001, as part of the No Child Left Behind Legislation. The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Act is to remove barriers to education for homeless/transitional students and provide educational stability.
Who is considered McKinney-Vento eligible? Any child or youth who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence is considered homeless, and includes those who are temporarily sharing housing with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship. It also includes children and youth who are living in hotels, camping grounds, emergency shelters, cars, bus or train stations, or other similar settings, unaccompanied youth, transitional housing programs and children in foster or temporary placements. If you are not sure if a child qualifies, please call 253.571.6790.
What are the education rights of homeless children and youth? Our schools provide equal and comparable access to all students regardless of their home living situation. McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth have specific rights that include:
1. Maintain attendance at the school of origin (if this is in the child’s best interest), or enroll in the local school where currently residing
2. Assistance with transportation
3. Assistance obtaining needed records and documentation
4. Appropriate support services and programs for which they are eligible such programs as gifted, children with disabilities, vocational education, preschool
5. Academic assistance through the district’s federally funded Title I program
6. Parent or guardian involvement in school activities
7. Maintain enrollment in the current school for the remainder of the school year (transportation assistance if needed)
If you have a student/child who may qualify for McKinney-Vento services or would like more information, please contact the McKinney-Vento liaison at 253.571.6790.