McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
The federal McKinney-Vento Act is designed to address the challenges that homeless children and youths have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.
Under the McKinney-Vento Act, State educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youths. Homeless children and youths must have access to the educational and related services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. SEAs and local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youths.
Rights of Eligible Children and Youth
- Right to immediate school enrollment even when records not present
- Right to remain in the school of origin, if in the student’s best interest
- Right to receive transportation to and from the school of origin
- Right to receive support for academic success
If you believe your child qualifies for homelessness assistance, please contact CCA’s homelessness liaison at [email protected].