Homeless & Unaccompanied Youth Services

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The purpose of this program is to ensure student success at school: academically, socially, emotionally and with their personal safety.

The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

• Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
• Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
• Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
• Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
• Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
• Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
• Unaccompanied children and youth not living with their legal guardian(s)
• Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, students:

• May enroll in school immediately, even if they lack documents normally required for enrollment
• Attend classes while the school gathers missing documents
• May attend the school they were last enrolled in (school of origin), even if the child has been forced to relocate
• Be provided with transportation to and from the school of origin
• Receive all the same educational services other students receive
• Participate in before and after school programs, even if the child cannot pay
• Receive counseling if requested
• Are entitled to free breakfast and lunch
• Participate in special education, bilingual vocational and gifted programs if qualified
• Receive school supplies as needed
• Can qualify for extra academic support through Title I funding
• Can qualify for an evaluation for any disabilities

How To Qualify For Services: 

• Complete the Housing Questionnaire in the District's yearly on-line registration packet in Skyward
• You may also contact your school counselor to inquire about services
• Contact the district's McKinney-Vento liaison, Frank Cardwell for additional assistance (509) 754-2474 x1009