McKinney-Vento

Section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, defines the following terms:
 

(a) Homeless children and youths means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term includes—

(1) Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals.

(2) Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

(3) Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

(4) Migratory children (as defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended), who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described in this definition.

(b) Enroll and enrollment include attending classes and participating fully in school activities.

(c) Unaccompanied youth includes a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

• immediate enrollment even when they lack paperwork normally required for enrollment
• immediate placement in the Free and Reduced Lunch/Breakfast Program.

2. Students are allowed to remain in their “school of origin" when possible, which could be the school they attended before becoming homeless or the school they last attended and mandates that transportation be provided.

3. Fees for school programs are waived for this group, evaluations are expedited, and every attempt is made to put services in place for students to achieve academic success. Students are eligible for Title IA services.

4. Preschool aged children who qualify receive priority enrollment into preschool programs and are categorically eligible for Head Start.

Determination of eligibility under this act is done by the district’s Homeless Liaison. Referrals are made by schools and the community (shelters, housing programs, social service providers). All records are confidential and not part of the student’s permanent file.