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Who is Homeless?
Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act, you are considered homeless if you are:
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Sharing housing (doubled up) with family or friends due to economic or other hardship reasons
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Staying in a shelter, transitional living program, hotel/motel, or campground
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Living on the street, in a car, in an abandoned building or other inadequate accommodations
Rights of Homeless Children and Youth:
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act ensures that all homeless children and youth school age and preschool age, have the right to a free appropriate public education without barriers. In particular, homeless children and youth have the right to:
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Attend school, regardless of where they live (i.e. shelter, hotel).
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Remain at the school they attended before becoming homeless (school of origin) when it is in the student’s best interest and when it is the choice of the parent/guardian. If a parent/guardian’s choice is not honored, they must be notified, in writing, of this decision and the reason the decision. Parent/guardians have the right to appeal a decision that is against their wishes.
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Receive transportation to the school or the school last attended before becoming homeless, if requested by parent/guardian and in the student’s best interest.
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Enroll in school without delay, even without documents normally required for enrollment, such as school transcripts, medical records, and immunization records, or parent permission for unaccompanied homeless youth.
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Enroll in school without providing a permanent address and without proof of residency.
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Attend a school and participate in school activities and programs with children and youth who are not homeless. Homeless children and youth must not be segregated.
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Receive the same access to special programs (Special Education, At-Risk, Gifted and Talented, etc.)
Services Available to Homeless Children and Youth:
In order to remove barriers to education, a number of services are available to homeless children and youth. Depending on each student’s individual needs, these services may include:
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Transportation
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School nutrition programs
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School supplies and fees
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After school programs
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Enrollment assistance
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Preschool/early education services
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ESL services
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Translation services
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Special education programs/programs for students with disabilities
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Referral to social services agencies that can assist homeless families with basic needs
Resources and Information on Homelessness
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
P.O. Box 26274
Minneapolis, MN 55426
Phone: (866) 862-2562
Department of Public Instruction
State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 267-1284
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