McKinney-Vento Services for Students with Housing Insecurity

What Is the McKinney-Vento Act?

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal policy that requires every school district to provide education and related services for students experiencing homelessness. Homeless children and youth must have equal access to the same free, appropriate, public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youth.

Who is eligible for McKinney-Vento assistance?

A family or “unaccompanied youth” is eligible if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

What are some examples of these?

• Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternativve adequate accommodations
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters
• Abandoned in hospitals
• Having a primary nighttime residence (public or private) not designed as a regular sleeping accommodation
• Living in car parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
• Migratory children living in circumstances a described above
• An “unaccompanied youth” living without a parent or guardian

Services provided by McKinney-Vento

If your student is eligible for McKinney-Vento services, you may have the right to:

• Immediate school enrollment
• Remain in your school of origin (the one you attended before losing housing)
• Transportation to the school of origin
• Access to educational programs and services (like Title I services)
• Removal of barriers to participating in after-school activities
• Access to school supplies, clothing, etc. to remove barriers to school attendance

For additional information, see the Vermont Agency of Education Homeless Student Support website

For information on local food resources, see Food Resources in the Brattleboro Area