If you live in any of the following situations (or similar situations), a student may qualify for certain educational rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.:
- Sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
- Living in motels or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
- Living in emergency or transitional shelters
- Sleeping locations not usually used as a sleeping accommodation
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
Your Rights:
Under federal law, homeless children and youth are entitled to immediate enrollment in school and educational stability.
If a student is determined to be an eligible student, the student may have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education
- Transportation to and from school free of charge, allowing children to attend their school of origin (last school enrolled or the school they attended when they first became homeless) regardless of what district the family resides in.
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
- Enroll in the local school or continue attending their school of origin (the school attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled) if that is their preference and is feasible; if the school district believes that the school selected is not in their best interest, the district must provide them with a written explanation of its position and inform them of their right to appeal its decision
- Participate in all applicable school programs, including supplemental services
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the needs as a student
- Receive free lunch
ECYEH General Guide
Additional information can also be found in Board Policy 5455 - Homeless Students and Regulation 5455 - Homeless Students.
