Students Experiencing Homelessness (McKinney-Vento Act)

Liliana Godinez

McKinney-Vento Liaison

Phone Number

(425) 456-4287

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/