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McKinney-Vento Program

Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) is included in the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. The reauthorization requires that children and youths experiencing homelessness are immediately enrolled in school and have educational opportunities equal to those of their non-homeless peers. The statute requires every public school district and charter holder to designate a Homeless Liaison to ensure that homeless students are identified and their needs are being met. In order to supplement services to these children and youths, the U.S. Department of Education provides funding for state and local activities. These dollars are allocated to the local education agencies through a competitive grant process, based on need and program quality.

Mission

To ensure that homeless children and youth have access to a free, appropriate public education, comparable to that provided to the children of any Arizona resident and consistent with Arizona’s mandatory school attendance laws.

Qualifications

Those living in any of the following may qualify:

shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground
on the street
abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations
doubled up with friends or relatives because housing cannot be found or afforded

Rights

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act includes certain rights and/or protections to:

go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there. You must be given access to the same public education provided to other students.
continue in the school you attended before you became homeless or the school you last attended, if that is your choice and is feasible. The school district’s local liaison for homeless education must assist you, if needed, and offer you the right to appeal a decision regarding your choice of school if it is against your wishes.
receive transportation to the school you attended before you became homeless or the school you last attended, if you request such transportation.
attend a school and participate in school programs with students who are not homeless. Students cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.
enroll in school without giving a permanent address. Schools cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay school enrollment.
enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.
enroll and attend classes in the school of your choice even while the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrollment.
receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other students served in these programs.
receive transportation to school and to school programs.

When You Move

When you move, you should do the following:

Contact the school district’s local liaison for homeless education for help in enrolling in a new school or arranging to continue in your former school. (Or, someone at a shelter, social services office, or the school can direct you to the person you need to contact).
Tell your teachers anything you think they need to know to help you in school.
Ask the local liaison for homeless education, the shelter provider, or a social worker for assistance with clothing and supplies, if needed.