No one ever plans to lose their home.  The slow economic recovery combined with the many challenges today’s families face has led to more people than ever living in a temporary housing situation. Maybe you just lost your job.  A natural disaster forced you out of your home.  You had to leave a violent spouse.  The situation that caused you to lose your home is difficult enough to deal with.  If you are also the parent of a school age child, making sure that your child stays in school may seem impossible.

  These living situations are known as "transitional housing."  Fortunately, the McKinney-Vento Act provides rights and protections for school children throughout the United States living in transitional housing situations.

 

What is the McKinney-Vento Act?

The McKinney Vento Act was created to help overcome all of the barriers to school success that children living in transitional housing run into.  Children living in transitional housing situations often have problems enrolling in school, getting to and from school, participating in before and after school programs, completing homework, and accessing all of the other educational services provided to other students.  The Act was originally created to help homeless students, but has been expanded to provide for children living in many different transitional situations.

 

Who is covered by the McKinney-Vento Act?

• If you are living in any of the following because of economic hardship or natural disaster:
  • With friends or relatives,          
  • In a shelter,         
  • Motel
  • On the street

• Children living in parks, cars, public campgrounds or other public spaces

• Youth not living with a parent or guardian (runaways)

 

What does the McKinney-Vento Act Provide?

• You can enroll your child in any public school immediately, even if you do not have medical or other records normally required.  If your child is covered under the McKinney-Vento Act, the school must enroll your child and your child can attend while the school gathers the needed records.
• If at all feasible, your child may continue attending the school they were enrolled in when the housing situation changed.  In other words, if you are forced to move to another school's attendance area, your child can continue to go to the same school they were in.
• If feasible, the school district must provide you with transportation to and from the school your child is attending.  This may be in the form of bus tokens or cab fare.
• Your child can receive the same educational services that would be provided if the student was not living in transitional housing.
• The school and school district are required to take steps to remove any stigma for the child regarding their living situation and school attendance.  Teachers must make an effort not to do or say anything that may embarrass the child, such as requiring them to go to "Homeless tutoring" or discussing the living situation in an embarrassing way in front of other children. 

 

How To Access Services:

 

Your first step is to get in contact with your school districts transitional housing liaison. Every U.S. public school district is required to have such a liaison.   If you don't know how contact the liaison, ask at your child's school.  Your school's enrollment secretary, school counselor or principal should all be able to provide information to get you in touch with the liaison. You can also discuss your situation with your child's teacher.  The local liaison will talk with you to see if your child is covered under McKinney-Vento status, and what services your child will be provided with under the Act.  If your child is found to be eligible for services, they will remain eligible for at least the entire time they are living in transitional housing.  If the child gains permanent housing, they remain eligible for the rest of the school year.  Making sure your child is allowed to remain in their previous school or can get to and from their new school is a main goal of these programs.

 

Sources: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/guidance.pdf