McKinney-Vento

What is McKinney-Vento?

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act) (42 United States Code § 11431-11435) is federal legislation that ensures the educational rights and protections of all school-aged children and youth experiencing homelessness. It requires all local educational agencies to ensure that students experiencing transitions in housing or homelessness have access to the same free, appropriate public education, as provided to other children and youth. Schools are required to remove barriers to the enrollment, attendance, and academic success of students in housing transition. 

To ensure that each school identifies all homeless and unaccompanied youths enrolled at the school, a housing questionnaire is administered at least once a year. The questionnaire can be made available in the primary language of the student’s parent or unaccompanied youth upon request. (References: 42 USC 11432; EC 48852.5, BP/AR: 6173 – Education for Homeless Children)

You are guaranteed enrollment in school by the federal McKinney-Vento Act and California state law if you live:

• In a house or apartment with more than one family due to loss of housing or economic hardship
• With friends or family because you are a runaway or an unaccompanied youth
• In substandard housing (without electricity, water, or heat)
• In a shelter (family, domestic violence, or youth shelter or transitional living program)
• In a motel, hotel, or weekly rate housing
• In an abandoned building, in a car, at a campground, or on the streets

You can enroll in school immediately even without the documents normally required for enrollment, such as:  

• Proof of residency
• Immunization records or other required health records
• School records
• Legal guardianship papers

Your child may:

• Participate fully in all school activities and programs for which he/she is eligible.
• Continue to attend the school in which he/she was last enrolled even if you have moved away from the school's attendance area.
• Qualify automatically for school nutrition programs.

Your responsibilities are to: 

• Make sure your child gets to school on time and is ready to learn.
• Stay informed of school rules, regulations, and activities.
• Contact the homeless liaison for assistance in removing barriers to your child's education.
• Attend parent/teach conference, Back to School Night, and other school related activities.