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