Homeless Student Newsletter

Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds, due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters, or are abandoned in hospitals
• Living in a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth:

• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
• Migratory children living in the above circumstances [42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)]
• Unaccompanied youth includes a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian

✍🏻🧓Appoint a local McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison and ensure they have the capacity to carry out the duties listed in statute Identify students experiencing homelessness

🍎Enroll students experiencing homelessness immediately, even without required records Make student records available in a timely manner

🟰Provide services to students experiencing homelessness that are comparable to those offered to other students

🏠Review and revise policies that may act as barriers to the enrollment of students experiencing homelessness

🏨Continue the student’s education in their school of origin

🚕Provide School of Origin transportation if it is requested by a parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth and is in the best interest of the student

✍🏻Provide written notice to parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youth related to the appeal process if the LEA sends the student to a school other than the school requested

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Under section 723(d) of the McKinney-Vento Act, LEAs may use subgrant funds for activities that support the purposes of the program including:

1) Tutoring, supplemental instruction, and enriched educational services that are linked to the achievement of the same challenging State academic standards as the State establishes for other children and youths.

2) Expedited evaluations of the strengths and needs of homeless children and youths, including needs and eligibility for programs and services (such as educational programs for gifted and talented students, children with disabilities, and English learners, services provided under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or similar State or local programs, programs in career and technical education, and school nutrition programs).

3) Professional development and other activities for educators and specialized instructional support personnel that are designed to heighten the understanding and sensitivity of such personnel to the needs of homeless children and youths, the rights of such children and youths under this subtitle, and the specific educational needs of runaway and homeless youths.

4) Referral services to homeless children and youths for medical, dental, mental, and other health services.

5) Assistance to defray the excess cost of transportation for students under section 722(g)(4)(A), not otherwise provided through Federal, State, or local funding, where necessary to enable students to attend the school selected under section 722(g)(3).

6) Developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs, not otherwise provided through Federal, State, or local funding, for preschool-aged homeless children.

7) Services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youths, particularly homeless children and youths who are not enrolled in school, in public school programs, or services provided to nonhomeless children and youths.

8) Before-and after-school, mentoring, and summer programs in which a teacher or other qualified individual provides tutoring, homework assistance, and supervision of educational activities.

9) Payment of fees and other costs associated with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records necessary to enroll homeless children and youths in school, including birth certificates, immunization or other required health records, academic records, guardianship records, and evaluations for special programs or services.

10) Education and training for the parents and guardians of homeless children and youths about the rights of, and resources available to, such children and youths, and other activities designed to increase the meaningful involvement of parents and guardians of homeless children and youths in the education of such children and youths.

11) Coordination between schools and agencies providing services to homeless children and youths, as described in section 722(g)(5).

12) Specialized instructional support services (including violence prevention counseling) and referrals for such services.

13) Programs addressing the particular needs of homeless children and youths that may arise from domestic violence and parental mental health or substance abuse problems.

14) Providing supplies to non-school facilities made available under subsection (a)(2) to provide services under this subsection.

15) Providing school supplies, including those supplies to be distributed at shelters or temporary housing facilities, or other appropriate locations.

16) Providing extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless children and youths to attend school and participate fully in school activities.