The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures the rights and protections for students experiencing homelessness.
“Homeless” is defined as “anyone lacking a fixed, adequate, regular nighttime residence”. Examples include:
- In an emergency shelter or transitional housing.
- In a motel, hotel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation.
- In a car, park, abandoned building, or public place due to unavailable suitable housing options.
- Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship.
- Unaccompanied (not living in direct care of a legal parent or guardian) or runaway youth.
Under the legislation, eligible children have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education.
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
- Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled).
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the children’s needs.
*If the school district believes that the school selected is not in the best interest of the child, then the district must provide a written explanation of its position and inform the family of its right to appeal the decision.
Housing Stability Resources