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McKinney-Vento Act Homeless Youth

HOMELESS SUPPORT

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Program was designed to make sure all homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education as children and youth who are not homeless. This includes preschool education where and when offerred. 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 also must 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.

Click LINK for more information!

Updated 1.3.20

DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (also referred to as the Act or the McKinney-Vento 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.  The Act includes dispute resolution among the required duties of the local education agency (LEA) liaison.  The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has developed a dispute resolution process as required by the McKinney-Vento Act.

Dispute Process paperwork can be found here

Updated 1.3.20 
 

HOMELESS STUDENT INFORMATION

Students who are homeless have educational rights under Federal law (the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act).  Updated 1.3.20

This includes students that are defined as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including those students who are: (1) Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship, or a similar reason;(2) Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; (3). Living in emergency or transitional shelters; (4). Abandoned in hospitals; (5). Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodations for human beings; (6). Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, transportation stations or similar settings; (7). Migratory children living in conditions described in the previous examples.

The McKinney-Vento Act protects the educational rights of homeless children and youth. Your child CAN get the EDUCATION she or he DESERVES! Any child who qualifies for McKinney-Vento services because of homelessness, or any of the above conditions, has RIGHTS.

Educational RIGHTS for homeless children:

  • To remain enrolled in, and be transported to, the student’s School of Origin (last school) , even if you move across the District, or out of District.
  • To be enrolled immediately (even without medical or school records) in the student’s neighborhood school (if that’s what you would prefer).
  • To receive FREE breakfast and lunch in schools that serve both).
  • To not pay school fees (you should NOT have to pay for fees for books for class, for field trips, for school sports, etc.).
  • Help with basic school supplies including uniforms, shoes, etc. • (If you can’t afford calculators, binders, paper, or other required supplies, talk with your child’s school and get HELP).
  • To receive the same educational supports as all students. If your child is struggling with class work, advocate by asking the school staff for additional supports. School offers students stability, friendship, & opportunities to learn and grow in a safe environment. School offers children a chance for a BETTER tomorrow— better jobs, better pay, better future. Keep your children in school!

CALL FOR ASSISTANCE
Chuck Wyborney, Principal
Columbia School District No. 206
Homeless Liaison
509-722-3311