Families Living in Transition: McKinney-Vento

Students May Be Eligible for Support if:

• Living in a shelter or transitional housing program.
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
• Living in inadequate living conditions (unsafe housing, lack of heat or running water).
• Unaccompanied youth experiencing any of the above situations.

Under the McKinney-Vento (MV) Homeless Assistance Act, the term "homeless children and youth" means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Eligible Students Have the Right to:

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.

• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.

• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documentation.

• Enroll in the local school; or continue attending the school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or in which they were last enrolled), according to each student’s best interest.

  • If the school district believes that the school selected is not in the student’s best interest, the district must provide the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth with a written explanation of its position and inform the parent, guardian, or youth of the right to appeal its decision.

• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.

• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to each student’s needs.

Services

• School supplies and uniforms
• Transportation to and from the school of origin
• Referrals for housing, health care, food, and other services
• Academic support and tutoring