Homeless Education Services Home
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that gives educational rights, stability, and support services to children and youth experiencing homelessness.
Doubled Up
Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to domestic violence, lack of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
Shelter
Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private place not designed or ordinarily used for regular sleeping.
Unsheltered
Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
Migrant Children
Children and youth who qualify as homeless under circumstances defined in Section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Unaccompanied youth
Youth not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian.
School Enrollment
Homeless students have the right to either remain in their school of origin or to attend school where they are temporarily residing.
Students who choose to remain in their school or origin have the right to remain there until the end of the school year in which they obtain permanent housing.
Students who choose to enroll in school where they are temporarily residing must be enrolled immediately, even if they do not bring the records usually required for enrollment.
If a homeless student arrives without records, the school district’s designated Homeless Education Liaison must assist the family and contact the previously attend school system to obtain the required records.
Homelessness Rights and Services
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education.
New Bedford Public Schools ensures the implementation of McKinney-Vento Services with regards to identification, awareness, enrollment, attendance and additional supports to guarantee educational stability and success for our students.
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”