Homeless Student Services

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. Including but not limited to:

• Children and youth sharing housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason

   

• Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations

   

• Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters

   

• Children and youth abandoned in hospitals

   

• Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

   

• Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings

   

• Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations

   

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act grants homeless students the following rights:

• The right to access the same free and appropriate public education as provided to all other children. 

   

• The right to enroll in school immediately, even if lacking enrollment documentation

   

• The right to enroll in school and attend classes while gathering enrollment documents

   

• The right to enroll in the school of origin (the school attended when permanently housed or the last school enrolled)

   

• The right to transportation to and from the school of origin when requested

   

• The right to educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the child’s needs

   

• The right to go to school with children who are not homeless

   

The Homeless Liaison is committed to serving homeless families through:

• Assisting with school registration, records transfers, immunizations, free school meals and school bus transportation

   

• Working with other entities and agencies to ensure homeless students are identified by school personnel

   

• Ensuring that homeless students enroll in, and have equal opportunity to succeed in school

   

• Ensuring that homeless students receive the services for which they are entitled

   

• Ensuring unaccompanied youths are enrolled in school and receive support to accrue credits and access to higher education

   

• Providing referrals for critical needs such as food, clothing, housing and health services

   

• Informing parents of the educational rights of homeless children and youth, including attendance to the school of origin and school bus transportation

   

• Facilitating the display public notice of the educational rights of homeless children

   

• Mediating in school enrollment disputes

   

• Ensuring school personnel providing McKinney-Vento services receive professional development and other support

   

The Homeless Advocate is available to assist homeless families through:

• Helping procure school enrollment documents such as birth certificates and immunizations

   

• Providing referrals for critical needs such as food, clothing, housing and health services

   

• Collaborating with schools and agencies to identify homeless students

   

• Providing translation assistance and services to Spanish-speaking families