The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
A federal law that provides certain rights and protections to students who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.
Eligible students have the right to:
- Go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there.
- Be given access to the same public education provided to other children, including preschool education.
- Continue in their school of origin or school of residence.
- Receive transportation, if it’s feasible, to the school of origin, if forced to move outside their school’s attendance boundary.
- Attend school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless.
- Enroll in school without having a permanent address.
- Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records, or other documents required for enrollment.
- Enroll and attend classes even while the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrolling your children.
- Participate in the same special programs and services, for which student qualifies, as provided to all other children served in these programs.
What are the qualifications?
Students qualify under the McKinney-Vento Act if they are living in one of the following situations:
- In an emergency or homeless shelter
- In a hotel or motel due to lack of alternative options
- In a vehicle
- In a campground
- On the street
- In an abandoned building (or other place not meant for human habitation)
- Doubled up with friends or relatives due to lack of ability to find or afford housing
- In other inadequate housing accommodations
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are a youth living on your own in one of the situations listed and attending an Eastpointe High School, you may qualify. For more information contact your site leader or the McKinney-Vento liaison at 480-809-9495 or e-mail cmarkham@eastpointehs.net.