THE MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT
MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT
The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is authorized under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) (McKinney-Vento Act). The McKinney-Vento Act was originally authorized in 1987 and re-authorized on December 10, 2016, by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The McKinney-Vento Act is designed to address the challenges that homeless youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.
Under the McKinney-Vento Act, State educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education (including a public preschool education) as other children and youth. Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and related services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. SEAs and local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth.
Definition of Homeless (McKinney-Vento Act Sec. 725(2); 42 U.S.C. 11435(2))
WHO IS HOMELESS?
Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence:
"Doubled-up" - Sharing the housing of others due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons.
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, and camping grounds due to inadequate alternative accommodations.
Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live.
Migratory children living in any of the above circumstances.
Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
Unaccompanied Youth - Children or youth who meet the definition of homeless and are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
RESIDENCY AND EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS
The McKinney-Vento Act provides certain rights for homeless students. They include waiving certain requirements, such as proof of residency when students enroll, and allowing categorical eligibility for certain services, such as free textbooks. The Act also states:
Homeless students may attend their school of origin or the school where they are temporarily residing;
Homeless students must be provided a written statement of their rights when they enroll and at least two times per year;
Homeless students may enroll without school, medical, or similar records;
Homeless students have a right to transportation to school;
Students must be provided a statement explaining why they are denied any service or enrollment;
Students must receive services, such as transportation, while disputes are being settled;
Students are automatically eligible for Title I services;
School districts must reserve a portion of Title IA funds to serve homeless students;
School districts must review and revise policies that provide barriers to homeless students;
Schools must post information in the community regarding the rights of homeless students in schools and other places that homeless families may frequent;
School districts must identify a McKinney-Vento Liaison to assist students.
RESIDency & educational rights resources
MCKINNEY-VENTO LIAISONS
PPHS BROAD RIPPLE
Dannielle Norris,
Mental Health Therapist
dnorris@pphs.purdue.edu
(317) 832-4800
PPHS ENGLEWOOD
Katie Piatt,
Mental Health Therapist
kpiatt@pphs.purdue.edu
(317) 832-1200
PPHS SOUTH BEND
Karl Turnlund,
Dean of Culture
kturnlund@pphs.purdue.edu
(574) 213-8557
PPHS NETWORK
Shana Cash,
Director of Health & Wellness
scash@pphs.purdue.edu
(317) 832-1200
STATE OF INDIANA
Flora Jones, IDOE Director Student Pathways & Opportunities and
Charie Gibson, IDOE Homeless Education Specialist,
McKinneyVenotPOC@doe.in.gov | (317) 232-0957