MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE act

Definition:

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in effect since 1987 is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

Children and youth living with other families or relatives (“doubled up”)due to loss of housing
Children and youth living in hotels and motels
Children and youth living in emergency or domestic violence shelters
Children and youth living in transitional housing
Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations and other locations that are not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation
Children and youth living without the support of parents/guardians (unaccompanied youth)
Children and youth awaiting foster care placement
Are migratory children living in conditions described in previous examples

McKinney Vento Student Rights

Right to continue at School Of Origin, the school they attended before becoming homeless, or the school in which they were last enrolled

Right to Immediate Enrollment even if they lack normally required documents, such as immunization records or proof of residence

Right to receive transportation to and from their school of origin, if it is in the child's or youth's best interest.

Free nutrition services.

Assistance with School Fees: including field trips, physical education fees, lab fees and other school fees.

Assistance in obtaining extra academic supports and school supplies.

Assistance with connecting to social service agencies in the community.

To access McKinney-Vento Services, students or adults who are caring for unaccompanied youth can speak with the School Counselor or School McKinney-Vento Designee, the district’s McKinney-Vento office at 206-988-7259 or 206-277-5904 or fill out the Student Housing Questionnaire and return to your student's school.

Student Housing Questionnaire:

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The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act acknowledges that disputes may arise between the school district and homeless students and their parents, or unaccompanied youth, when the district seeks to place a student in a school other than the school of origin or the school requested by the parent or unaccompanied youth. Click here for the Dispute Resolution Process.

District & State Policies:

Highline Public Schools Policy 3115: Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Policy 3115 :OSPI Enrollment Rights and Services Policy