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McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program
McKinney-Vento Homeless Program
Contact Information: Carrie Derr McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Grand Coulee Dam School District 509-633-0730 ext 315 cderr@gcdsd.org
The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for supporting district programs that serve homeless students.
The McKinney-Vento Act requires schools to enroll homeless children and youth immediately, even if they lack normally required documents, such as immunization records or proof of residence.
The act ensures that homeless children and youth have transportation to and from their school of origin if it is in the child or youth's best interest.
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." 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 campgrounds 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 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
