McKinney-Vento - Homeless Students

 West Oak Lane Charter School
Homeless Initiative - McKinney-Vento

 

PURPOSE

 

In 1987, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, (subsequently renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) to aid homeless persons. The Act defines the term "homeless children and youths" as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was enacted, amending McKinney-Vento.

 

IF YOU LIVE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS:

• 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, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals;
• children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
• children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings;
• “migratory children” who qualify as homeless under federal law because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii) above. The term "migratory children" means children who are (or whose parent(s) or spouse(s) are) migratory agricultural workers, including migratory dairy workers or migratory fishermen, and who have moved from one school district to another in the preceding 36 months, in order to obtain (or accompany such parents or spouses in order to obtain) temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work; and,
• "unaccompanied homeless youth" including any child who is "not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian." This includes youth who have run away from home, been thrown out of their home, been abandoned by parents or guardians, or separated from their parents for any other reason.

Eligible students have the right to:

 

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.
• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
• Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their preference and is feasible.
  • *If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then the district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.
    
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students’ needs.
• Automatically certified as eligible for free meal benefits.

 

If you believe you may be eligible, contact:

P. Middleton | WOLCS Climate Director/Homeless Liaison
Phone: 215-927-7995 | [email protected] 

Additional resources and further assistance can be found:

Storm y. Camara | Pennsylvania Department of Education
Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program
Phone: 717-772-2066 | [email protected]

National Center for Homeless Education

Phone: 1-800-308-2145

 

If you believe you may be eligible, contact the school office to find out
what services and supports may be available.