The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Program is to ensure that all children and youth have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education, including preschool education as non-homeless children and youth.

State and local educational agencies are required to develop, review and revise policies to remove barriers to the enrollment, attendance and success in school that homeless children and youth may experience. Local educational agencies must also provide homeless children and youth with the opportunity to meet the same challenging state content and state student performance standards to which all students are held.

Definition of Homeless

The federal government's legal definition of homelessness based on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is anyone who...

• Is lacking a regular, fixed and adequate nighttime residence (sub standard housing)

• Is sharing housing due to economic struggles (double-up)

• Is living in a shelter, hotel or motel 

• Is living in a public place not designed for sleeping (cars, parks)

• Is an unaccompanied youth, a child or youth awaiting foster care placement

• Is a child or youth abandoned in a hospital

• Is a migrant child who qualifies under any of the above

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act requires districts to ensure homeless students have access to education and other services they need to meet the same high academic achievement standards as all students.

WE CAN HELP!

All local school districts must designate a Homeless Liaison. Our Liaison is:

Mr. Steve Candela

Community Liaison

steve.candela@jalsd.org

Contact him if you or someone you know is homeless and needs help to enroll in school or contact help in the community.

The following is the policy of the Congress:

(1) Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.

(2) In any State that has a compulsory residency requirement as a component of the State's compulsory school attendance laws or other laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youths, the State will review and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.

(3) Homelessness alone is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.

(4) Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held.

Related Links

• The National Center for Homeless Education

• ODE McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Program Overview