McKinney-Vento
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
The McKinney-Vento Act was originally authorized in 1987 and most recently re-authorized in December 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Everyone who is between the ages of 4 and 21 on September 1st of the school year and has not been expelled, has the right to attend school, even if they:
- Do not live with a parent or legal guardian
- Lives temporarily doubled up with friends or family due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- Sleeps in a shelter
- Sleeps in a campground, car, abandoned building, or other place not designated for, or ordinarily used as regular housing for people
- Lives in substandard housing (no electricity or water)
- Participates in a transitional housing program
- Does not have school records
Service Provided
The Federal McKinney-Vento Act and Texas State Law guarantee that if you meet eligibility requirements you may:
- Enroll in school even without records
- Continue to attend the school in which you were last enrolled, even if you have moved away from that school's attendance zone or district
- Receive transportation from your current residence back to your school of origin
- Qualify automatically for district free/reduced lunch and other district food programs
- Participate fully in all school activities and programs for which you are eligible; and
- Contact the district liaison to resolve any disputes that arise during the enrollment process
Resources
- Information for Parents of School Age-Youth (English) (Spanish)
- Information for School-Age Youth (English) (Spanish)
- Center for Transforming Lives
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
- National Center for Homeless Education
- Texas Homeless Network
- Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth