McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act - District and School Responsibilities

It is the intent of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act to ensure educational stability, continuity, and equity for families in transition.  Under McKinney-Vento, the local school district provides the following support to eligible students.


District Liaison

All local educational agencies (LEAs) must have a district liaison to facilitate the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.  (Click here for list of Kern County Liaisons.)

The Liaison ensures that:
•    Homeless children and youth are identified
•    Homeless students enroll in, and have full & equal opportunity to succeed in, the schools of the LEA
•    Homeless students have equal access to all school programs (e.g. GATE, Special Education, ELL programs, etc.)
•    Homeless students qualify automatically for Title I, School Meals, and After School Programs
•    Homeless families, children, and youth receive educational services
•    Parents or guardians are informed of educational opportunities available to their children
•    Public notice of the educational rights is disseminated (Posters and Brochures are available)
•    Enrollment disputes are mediated
•    Unaccompanied youth are immediately enrolled in school and are assisted in placement/enrollment decisions
•    Children and youth who do not have immunizations are assisted
•    Collaboration with appropriate state, community and school personnel occurs



Immediate Enrollment

•    Homeless children must be immediately enrolled.
•    “Enroll” and “enrollment” are defined to include attending classes and participating fully in school activities.
•    No prior records are needed, but should be obtained by the enrolling school as quickly as possible.
•    This includes birth certificates, social security numbers, immunization records, transcripts, and other records.
•    Unaccompanied youth have the right to enroll without a legal guardian.




Dispute Resolution

Whenever there is a disagreement the school must
•    Immediately enroll the student in school according to parent’s wishes
•    Keep the student until the dispute is settled
•    Provide transportation to the school of origin
•    Explain the decision in writing to parents
•    Contact the LEA Liaison to assist in settling the dispute with parents, guardian, or youth.
•    If the dispute is not resolved at the district level, the county liaison may be asked to facilitate communication.
•    If case is still not resolved, it will be referred to the state coordinator.


School Selection

•    Students have the right to stay in their “school of Origin” to the extent feasible* for the duration of homelessness, if it is in the best interest of the student and, if the parent requests.
•    “School of Origin” is the school the child attended when permanently housed OR when last enrolled.
•    Students can stay in their school of origin the entire time they are homeless and until the end of any academic year in which they move into permanent housing.
•    If a student is sent to a school other than that requested by a parent or guardian, the district must provide a written explanation to the parent or guardian of its decision and of their right to appeal

*Feasibility Criteria may include things like continuity of instruction, age of the child, safety of the student, length of stay in shelter, likely area in which family or youth will find permanent housing, student’s need for special instructional programs, impact of commute on education, school placement of siblings, schools attended by other children at the same shelter, and time remaining in the school year.


Transportation

•    Transportation must be arranged or provided, to and from the school of origin.
•    LEAs must provide or arrange transportation to and from the school of origin at the LEA homeless liaison’s request for unaccompanied youth.
•    If an LEA does not provide transportation to any of its students and it is determined that this placement is in the homeless student’s best interest, then the LEA is required to provide or arrange transportation for that student.
•    LEAs cannot use Title I or Title V funds to transport homeless students.
•    Once the student is permanently housed, the LEA may use Title I or Title V funds to continue transporting that student for the duration of the school year.

NOTE:  School districts that provide transportation to and from the school of origin have documented an increase in attendance and achievement that resulted in an increase in funding to the districts.

Title I Requirements

Title I, Part A Reservation

The LEA will reserve Title I, Part A funds to provide comparable services to homeless children and youth to ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including preschool education, as provided to other children and youth.  This reservation requirement is not formula driven.  The amount reserved is to be determined by the LEA, as appropriate. The California Department of Education recommends reserving one percent off the top. [PL 107-110, Section 1113(c)(3)(A)]

Title I Requirements

•    Homeless children are by definition automatically eligible for Title I services.
•    Title I requires a set aside reservation to be placed in the Consolidated Application for categorical funding.
•    Identification data on homeless students is reported in the Consolidated Application.
•    Title I requires a description of the Title I services to be placed in the Consolidated Application and LEA Plan.
•    There are no anticipated changes to guidance except to reinforce the USDE position that homeless students must receive equal access to the same high academic standards in a mainstream setting.

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