McKinney-Vento Homeless Basic Needs Closet
Supporting West Haven Homeless Students & Families
QUICK FACTS:
The McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act… • Maintains educational continuity during a time of transition • Requires schools to identify and enroll students who meet the definition of homeless • Is authorized under the “No Child Left Behind Act”. Requirements include educational access, stability, and success for homeless children and youth. • Responsibilities are outlined for local liaisons and state coordinators.
What Is the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act? • The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act was created to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. • Under this program, Educational Agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education.
What Is the Definition of a Homeless Student? The McKinney-Vento Act defines “Homeless Students” as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term also includes children and youth who are: • Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as doubled-up) • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations • Living in emergency or transitional shelters • Abandoned in hospitals • Awaiting foster care placement
