McKinney-Vento Act
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) is a federal law that addresses the needs of homeless people, including the educational needs of children and youth. The McKinney-Vento Act addresses educational challenges created by homelessness and guarantees homeless students the right to enroll, attend, and succeed in school. The law places the responsibility for guaranteeing the rights of homeless students on states and school districts (NCHE, 2014).
As a requirement of the federal law, all public school districts in the United States must appoint a liaison that will ensure compliance with the federal law. In Wake County Public Schools, the McKinney-Vento program includes a District Liaison, Student Information Data Manager and school liaisons.
Why is this important?
Students experiencing homelessness may change schools frequently. Learning is impacted as students must adjust to new environments, new curricula, and new teachers and classmates, while still learning the same information other students are expected to master. The loss of a home can be traumatic, leaving children and youth with tumultuous feelings that can impact their social and intellectual wellbeing. Limited access to food, medical care, and basic school supplies can also impact performance in the classroom (NCHE, 3014).
Who Is Eligible?
Homelessness is a lack of permanent housing resulting from extreme poverty, or, in the case of unaccompanied homeless youth, the lack of a safe and stable living environment. Families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in the United States, accounting for approximately 40 percent of those in homeless situations (NCHE).
As a result of the lack of shelter, most students in homeless situations share housing with friends or relatives, stay in motels or other temporary facilities, or live on the streets, in abandoned cars, and in woods and campgrounds. Yet, these children and youth may not immediately be recognized as homeless and are sometimes denied the protections and services of the McKinney-Vento Act. Therefore, the Act now contains a specific definition of homelessness that includes a broad array of inadequate living situations. This definition can help educators, families, and youth understand who is entitled to the Act’s protections (NCHE).
Rights & Services:
Once the school liaison determines a student is eligible for the McKinney-Vento Program, the student receives the following rights and services:
Contact Information:
All Elementary & Middle Schools
School Social Workers serve as the school McKinney-Vento Liaison
All High Schools
SAP Counselors serve as the school McKinney-Vento Liaison
Parent Rights Links:
_parent brochure - English (click on small blue underscore line)
_parent brochure - Spanish (click on small blue underscore line)
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) is a federal law that addresses the needs of homeless people, including the educational needs of children and youth. The McKinney-Vento Act addresses educational challenges created by homelessness and guarantees homeless students the right to enroll, attend, and succeed in school. The law places the responsibility for guaranteeing the rights of homeless students on states and school districts (NCHE, 2014).
As a requirement of the federal law, all public school districts in the United States must appoint a liaison that will ensure compliance with the federal law. In Wake County Public Schools, the McKinney-Vento program includes a District Liaison, Student Information Data Manager and school liaisons.
Why is this important?
Students experiencing homelessness may change schools frequently. Learning is impacted as students must adjust to new environments, new curricula, and new teachers and classmates, while still learning the same information other students are expected to master. The loss of a home can be traumatic, leaving children and youth with tumultuous feelings that can impact their social and intellectual wellbeing. Limited access to food, medical care, and basic school supplies can also impact performance in the classroom (NCHE, 3014).
Who Is Eligible?
Homelessness is a lack of permanent housing resulting from extreme poverty, or, in the case of unaccompanied homeless youth, the lack of a safe and stable living environment. Families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in the United States, accounting for approximately 40 percent of those in homeless situations (NCHE).
As a result of the lack of shelter, most students in homeless situations share housing with friends or relatives, stay in motels or other temporary facilities, or live on the streets, in abandoned cars, and in woods and campgrounds. Yet, these children and youth may not immediately be recognized as homeless and are sometimes denied the protections and services of the McKinney-Vento Act. Therefore, the Act now contains a specific definition of homelessness that includes a broad array of inadequate living situations. This definition can help educators, families, and youth understand who is entitled to the Act’s protections (NCHE).
Rights & Services:
Once the school liaison determines a student is eligible for the McKinney-Vento Program, the student receives the following rights and services:
- SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT
Attend either the local school or the school of origin, if this is in their best interest; the school of origin is defined as the school the child attended when he/she was permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled. - TRANSPORTATION
Receive transportation to and from the school of origin. - IMMEDIATE ENROLLMENT / NO REQUIRED PAPERWORK
Enroll in school immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment, such as a birth certificate, proof of residence, previous school records, or immunization/medical records.
Enroll, attend classes, and participate fully in all school activities while the school gathers records. - ACCESS TO PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Have access to the same programs and services that are available to all other students, including transportation and supplemental educational services. - CHILD NUTRITION
Free breakfast and lunch - no F&R form required - INCLUSION
Attend school with children not experiencing homelessness; a school can not segregate a student because he or she is homeless
Contact Information:
All Elementary & Middle Schools
School Social Workers serve as the school McKinney-Vento Liaison
All High Schools
SAP Counselors serve as the school McKinney-Vento Liaison
Parent Rights Links:
_parent brochure - English (click on small blue underscore line)
_parent brochure - Spanish (click on small blue underscore line)