Are you staying in a temporary place or without a home due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason?

Many families with children, and unaccompanied youth, struggle every year to afford a permanent place to live. Due to a law called the McKinney-Vento Act, children and youth in homeless or temporary living situations have the right to go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there. If you are currently in transition or in a temporary living situation due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason, you have the right to:

• Stay in your school, even if you move out of the district

• Enroll in a new school without proof of residency, immunizations, school records or other paperwork

• Have enrollment disagreements with schools settled quickly, and attend the school you choose while disagreements are settled

• Get help with transportation to and from school

• Participate in all school services and activities

• Go to preschool programs

Who is covered by the McKinney-Vento Act?

Anyone who is:

• Living with a friend, relative or someone else because they do not have a home of their own

• Staying in a motel or hotel

• Living in an emergency or transitional shelter or a domestic violence shelter

• Staying in substandard housing

• Living in a car, park, public place, abandoned building or bus station, etc

• Awaiting foster care placement

• Living in a campground or inadequate trailer home

• Runaway

• Migrant children

Is there someone in the school who can help you with these things?

Yes. There is a liaison in each school district whose job is to make sure you receive everything you need to help you attend school. They are there to ensure your rights are being met. They do this by:

• Helping students get immunizations, immunization records, school records and other needed paperwork

• Telling parents and youth about transportation services and helping to set up transportation

• Putting up notices about the education rights of students in homeless situations

• Helping students get school supplies, school clothing, or food.

• Referring students to any medical, dental, mental health or other services they need

• Coordinating with social services and housing agencies to ensure access to education