McKinney-Vento - Assistance for Homeless Students and Families

 

 

 

Definition of Homeless (McKinney-Vento)
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), defines “homeless children and youth” (school age and younger) as:  Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are residing in the following situations due to a due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.

 

·       Doubled up with relatives, friends, or strangers;

·       Living in emergency or transitional shelters

·       Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds, or abandoned in hospitals

·       Living in cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations, or abandoned buildings

·       Having a primary nighttime residence that is substandard, or a public/private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodations due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations

·       Migratory children or youth living in circumstances described above; and/or

·       Unaccompanied youth, meaning youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, such as runaways and youth denied housing by their families (sometimes referred to as “throwaway” children and youth)

 

What do families need to know?

·       Children and youth experiencing homelessness have a right to attend school.

·       You do not need a permanent address to enroll your child in school.

·       Children and youth experiencing homelessness can stay in their school of origin or enroll in any public school that students living in the same attendance zone are eligible to attend, whichever circumstance proves to be in the student’s best interest.      

·       The Liaison must provide you with a written explanation if a placement or eligibility dispute occurs. Contact your local Homeless Liaison for assistance in handling a dispute.

·       Your child cannot be denied school enrollment because school records or other enrollment documentation are not immediately available.

·       Your child may have the right to transportation services to and from the school of origin if determined in their best interest.

·       Your child has the right to participate in extracurricular activities and all federal, state, or local programs for which he/she is eligible.

·       Unaccompanied youth have these same rights. (Contact your local Homeless Liaison.)

·       McKinney-Vento status provides stability at the school for the duration of the school year. If housing instability continues beyond that school year, you must apply for requalification the following school year.

 

Legal Reference: The McKinney-Vento Assistance Act (42 U.S. C. 11431 et seq.) at Subtitle B of title VII. (Reauthorized 2002).

 

 

ACS District Plan

Homeless Student's Rights

IDOE's McKinney-Vento: Homeless Children & Youth Program

 

Marshall County Resources:

·       United Way of Marshall County

·       Link to Hope

·       Marshall County Neighborhood Center

 

State Resources:

·       Indiana 211

·       Housing 4 Hoosiers

·       Indiana HUD

 

Federal Resources:

·       National Housing Conference

 

 

Argos Community Schools’ McKinney-Vento Liaison:

 

Mrs. Megan Huys

mhuys@argos.k12.in.us

(574) 892-5137

 

IDOE McKinney-Vento Coordinator:

 

Ms. Flora Jones, Director of Student Pathways & Opportunities/Homeless Education Specialist

McKinneyVentoPOC@doe.in.gov

(317) 232-0957

 

 

McKinney-Vento Bulletins and News

 

https://nche.ed.gov/legislation/mckinney-vento/

https://nche.ed.gov/downloads/

https://nche.ed.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NCHE-Brochure-ENG.pdf

https://schoolhouseconnection.org/news-and-updates/newsletters/