McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance

Children and Families Experiencing Housing Transition

The McKinney-Vento Act is part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This law protects eligible students from discrimination and mandates equal access to educational services.

Eligible students who are identified as McKinney-Vento must have no barriers to their education.

A student may qualify for assistance if the student is currently:

• sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as double-up)
• living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
• living in emergency or transitional shelters
• abandoned in hospitals
• living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
• living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because the children are living the circumstances described above
• in any other living situation that is not fixed, regular, or adequate for a nighttime residence

McKinney-Vento students have the right to:

• Attend school regardless of where they live or how long they have lived there
• Not be denied school enrollment just because school records or other enrollment documentation are not immediately available
• Enroll and attend classes in the parents' school of choice until any enrollment disputes reach a resolution
• Continue education at the School of Origin, so long as it is in the best interest of the student
• Transportation to and from the School of Origin or School of Residence, including to and from extra-curricular activities at the request of parent/guardian
• Attend school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless
• Participate in extra-curricular activities and all federal, state, or local programs for which she or he is eligible