McKinney-Vento Assistance Act
Your school-aged children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Assistance Act. The McKinney-Vento act defines "homeless children and youth" as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.
Eligible families who live in any of the follow situations:
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Children living in "Substandard" conditions which include housing that lacks utilities (such as working water, gas or electricity). Housing that is infested with vermin and mold, and does not have a working kitchen or a working toilet. Housing that might present unreasonable dangers to adults, children, or persons with disabilities
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Children sharing housing with of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as doubled-up)
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Children living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
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Children living in crisis shelters, emergency shelters or transitional shelters
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Children abandoned in hospitals
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Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
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Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, at bus station or train stations, or similar settings
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Unaccompanied youth (students not living in the physical custody of parent/guardian. Commonly referred to as runaways, lockouts, throwaways, etc.) who are living in circumstances described above.
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Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above
Eligible children and youth have the right to:
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Receive a free, appropriate public education
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Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
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Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
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Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the schools the attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible
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If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your child(ren), then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal this decision
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Receive transportation to and from school, if the students meet the state statue eligibility requirements
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Receive educational services that "Non-homeless students" are eligible to receive
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A priority to certain pre-school programs
McKinney-Vento Act
