When students and/or families find themselves in a place of transition or in temporary housing situations it is often during these times that academic barriers are encountered. Registration, enrollment, transportation, and accessing school supplies and/or school-sponsored programs may be difficult. For this reason, the McKinney-Vento Act was created. The Act’s purpose is to support school access, school stability, and academic success for students residing in transitional living situations.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, certain living arrangements are considered to be “homeless” that may not typically be recognized as homeless situations. In determining eligibility, the term “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. As described in the McKinney-Vento Act, this includes:

• Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason.

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds due to a lack of alternative adequate housing.

• Living in an emergency or transitional shelter.

• Living in a car, park or public place not meant for habitation.

• A child or youth not living in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian due to incarceration or death of parent or because the youth has run away.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act there are specific rights that a student has which includes the right to:

• Enroll in school immediately, even if you do not have all of the required documents.

• Attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.

• Enroll in the local school or continue attending the school of origin (the school attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled).

If the school district believes that the school selected is not in the best interest of the student then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal it’s decision.

• Transportation to and from the school of origin if requested.

• Educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students needs.

• Free school breakfast and lunch and school fee waivers.