What is the McKinney-Vento Act?

The McKinney-Vento Act is a program designed to assist students and families who have been identified as homeless. This act offers services to students to help in their time of transition and need. To be eligible for assistance the student must meet the following definition:

"Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence"  including

• 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, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are 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
• Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations

Each student's situation is different and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The services offered are meant to be temporary and will stop at the end of each school year. If services are still needed in the next school year, families must reapply with the school district liaison.

• Immediate school enrollment and full participation in all school activities for eligible children, even when records normally required for enrollment are not available.
• The right of children and youth experiencing homelessness to remain in their school of origin (the school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled, when feasible and in the child's or youth's best interest to do so.
• Transportation to and from the school origin.
• Access to programs and services, including special education services, preschool services, free school meals, Title I services, services for English language learners, vocational/technical education, gifted and talented services, and before and after-school care.
• Rights and protections specifically for unaccompanied youth (youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian who are experiencing homelessness, including allowing them to be immediately enrolled without proof of guardianship.
• The right to dispute an enrollment decision and for a child or youth to be admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending the resolution of the dispute.

• Enrollment
• Fees
• School transportation
• ASB
• Clothing/Uniforms/PE
• School supplies
• Tutoring
• Medical/dental referral/vision or medical coupons
• Enrollment records
• Birth certificates
• Immunizations/medical records
• Counseling

Patricia Carlson

McKinney Vento/Foster Care Liaison

Anacortes School District/Anacortes Family Center

Email: pcarlson@asd103.org

Office: 360-682-1614

Cell/Text: 872-239-4158