Homeless Students (McKinney-Vento Act)
What is McKinney-Vento?
The McKinney-Vento Act is federal legislation, in effect since 1987, that ensures the rights and protections of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Act is to ensure that homeless children and youth are enrolled in and succeed in school. The McKinney-Vento Act defines “homeless children and youth” as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.
Who’s Eligible?
- Living with other families or friends (i.e. doubled-up housing)
- Living in hotels or motels
- Living in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, or transitional housing
- Living in cars, abandoned buildings, parks, on the street, or other public spaces
- Living as a runaway or in homeless youth shelters
- Living in temporary foster care placement
Eligible Students’ Rights
- Attend school in the attendance area where they are currently living.
- Attend the school of origin (the school they attended when they became homeless), or the school in which they were last enrolled.
- Support enrolling and succeeding in school from the district McKinney-Vento Liaison.
- Receive transportation to their school, if necessary.
- Free school meals (McKinney-Vento Liaison will complete the application).
- Services for English Language Learners, Special Education, and/or Gifted Education.
- Receive tutoring services focusing on academic assistance.
- Receive Preschool services.
Community Support
- Hopelink – 425-556-9283-shelter or 425 869-6000 – Food Bank
- Crisis Clinic – 877-211-WASH or 206 461-3200 www.crisisclinic.org
- Eastside Domestic Violence – 425-746-1940 or 1-800- 827-8840
- Eastgate Public Health – 206-296-4920 or 1 800 244-4312
- Friends of Youth – 206-236-5437
- Youth Eastside Services “YES” – 425-747-4937
- TEENLINK – 206-461-4922 1-866-833-6546 www.866TEENLINK.ORG
- Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) 206 341-7404
Additional Resources
- Melinda Dyer, Program Supervisor
State of Washington Education of Homeless Children and Youth
Melinda.dyer@k12.wa.us
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAECHY)
www.naehcy.org
- National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)
www.serve.org/nche/