Homeless Children & Youth Plan

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is authorized under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) (McKinney-Vento Act). The McKinney-Vento Act was originally authorized in 1987 and most recently re-authorized on December 10th, 2016 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The 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 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.

Definition of Homeless (McKinney-Vento Act Sec. 725(2); 42 U.S.C 11435(2))
Children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence:

"Double up" - Sharing the housing of others due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons.
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds, due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations.
Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live.
Migratory children living in the above circumstances
Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
Unaccompanied Youth - Children or youth who meet the definition of homeless and are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian

Homeless Student Rights

The McKinney Vento Act provides certain rights for homeless students. They include waiving certain requirements such as proof of residency when students are enrolling and allowing categorical eligibility for certain services, such as free textbooks. The Act also states:

● Homeless students may attend their school of origin or the school where they are temporarily residing;

● Homeless students must be provided a written statement of their rights when they enroll and at least two times per year;

● Homeless students may enroll without school, medical, or similar records;

● Homeless students have a right to transportation to school;

● Students must be provided a statement explaining why they are denied any service or enrollment;

● Students must receive services, such as transportation, while disputes are being settled;

● Students are automatically eligible for Title I services;

● School districts must reserve a portion of Title IA funds to serve homeless students;

● School districts must review and revise policies that provide barriers to homeless students;

● Schools must post information in the community regarding the rights of homeless students, in schools and other places that homeless families may frequent; and

● School districts must identify a McKinney Vento Liaison to assist students.

Contacts
Please contact a McKinney-Vento liaison for more information and/or to report a homeless student situation:

Jobie Whitaker
jdwhitaker@newpal.k12.in.us
Director of Transportation
317-861-4654

IDOE State Coordinator Contact Information