Overview of McKinney-Vento

Defining Homeless Children The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act provides a definition of homeless children and youths to be used by state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs)The McKinney-Vento Act was most recently reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Under the previous version of ESEA (the No Child Left Behind Act), the education of homeless children and youth was included in Title X, Part C. Under ESSA, homeless education is included in Title IX, Part AIt defines homeless children and youth to be those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Under the larger umbrella of lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, the law includes children and youths who are:* sharing housing due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;

  • living in hotels, motels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative adequate housing;
  • living in emergency or transitional shelters;
  • abandoned in hospitals;
  • living in a public or private place not designated for, or normally used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
  • living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar places;
  • living in one of the above circumstances and who are migratory according to the definition in Section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)].
Individual’s Rights and Services under McKinney Vento

In order to remove educational barriers for homeless children and youth, the McKinney Vento Act mandates* Immediate school enrollment and full participation in all school activities for eligible children, even when records normally required for enrollment are not available [42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(3)(C

  • the right of children and youth experiencing homelessness to remain in their school of origin (the school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled), when feasible and in the child’s or youth’s best interest to do so [42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(3)(A)]
  • Transportation to and from the school of origin [42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(1)( J)(iii
  • Access to programs and services, including special education services, preschool services, free school meals, Title I services, services for English language learners, vocational/ technical education, gifted and talented services, and before- and after-school care [42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(4)
  • Rights and protections specifically for unaccompanied youth (youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian) who are experiencing homelessness [42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(3)(B)(iii)], including allowing them to be immediately enrolled without proof of guardianship [42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(1)(H)(iii)
  • The right to dispute an enrollment decision and for a child or youth to be admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending the resolution of the dispute [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(E)(i)]; a
  • The appointment of a local homeless education liaison in every school district or local education agency (LEA) to ensure that homeless children and youth are identified and given full and equal access to all educational services for which they are eligible in order to succeed in school [42 U.S.C. § 11432 (g)(6)(A)].
Liaison Role and Responsibilities

The local liaison serves as one of the primary contacts between homeless families and school staff, district personnel, shelter workers and other service providers.  The liaison coordinates services to ensure that homeless children and youth are identified, enrolled in school, have access to transportation to the school of origin, and have the opportunity to succeed academically.

Homeless students shall be provided a free and appropriate public education in the same  manner as all other students in the district and shall not be stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their homeless status. 

Homeless students shall not be denied enrollment based on a lack of medical records, immunization records, school records, proof of residence, or any other records usually required for school enrollment.   

No School Board committee policy, administrative guideline, or practice shall be interpreted or applied in such a way as to prevent the immediate enrollment or attendance of homeless students or inhibit their potential for school success.

A homeless student, including an unaccompanied homeless youth, shall be allowed to enroll in either his/her school of origin ¨that is, the school he/she attended when he/she became homeless ¨ or in any public school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the child is actually living are eligible to attend.

Students shall be permitted to remain at their school of origin during the entire time they are homeless.  Furthermore, they shall be permitted to remain at their school of origin until the end of any academic year during which they move into permanent housing.

If a parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth disputes a school placement decision, the district must provide a written response.

Transportation shall be provided to and from the school of origin at the request of the parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth in accordance with the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act.

Homeless students are entitled to Title I services such as extended day, preschool and supplemental tutoring instruction, clothing and school supplies.  Homeless students qualify for free lunch.

For more information

If you have questions or if you would like more information about McKinney-Vento and student support please contact Jake Morrill, Assistant Principal HMHS, jmorrill@sau66.org