The McKinney-Vento Act
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that provides educational support for students who are experiencing homelessness. It ensures that students experiencing homelessness have equal access to the same public education and transportation to and from school as non-homeless children and youth.
Educational Rights
Under McKinney-Vento, a student has the right to:
- Enroll in school immediately, even without required documents like immunization records.
- Attend their school of origin (the school they last attended or the school they were enrolled in when they became homeless).
- Receive transportation to and from their school of origin.
- Receive comparable educational services to their housed peers.
Who is Eligible
A student qualifies for McKinney-Vento if they do not have a “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” This includes:
- Sharing the housing of others due to economic hardship
- Staying in motels, trailer parks, or campgrounds
- Staying in shelters or transitional housing
- Sleeping in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or similar settings
Helpful Tips and Reminders
- Registration is required each year. It does not roll over from year to year.
- The application process and point of contact can be found on your school district website.