Todd Baughman  

District McKinney-Vento Liaison

503-623-8480

todd.baughman@dsd2.org 

 

Carmen Halcom     

Administrative Assistant

503-623-8480    

carmen.halcom@dsd2.org

 

The rights of homeless children and youth to have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education provided to other children is ensured under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Subtitle VII-B, Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program, enacted in 1987. Students qualify for McKinney-Vento Homeless Program assistance when living situations are not fixed, regular, and/or adequate.

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The Act requires that every district designate a Homeless Liaison to identify and provide services to homeless students and to contribute to the annual data collection on preschool (ages 3-5) through grade 12 public school-enrolled homeless children and youth. The Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program works to ensure that school-age-eligible homeless children and youth are provided with immediate school enrollment and access to education services, despite lack of a permanent residence, a supervising parent or legal guardian, or lack of records from a previous school. To reduce frequent school changes, districts are required to stabilize homeless students in their schools of origin, even though the transportation route might involve crossing district boundaries.

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How is “Homeless” Defined? For the purposes of the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Programs under the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act, homeless children and youth “lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” A homeless family could live in an emergency shelter or transitional housing unit, share housing with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship, reside in motels, or live in tents or trailers for lack of alternative, adequate housing. Unaccompanied minors who have been abandoned by their parents or who have run away from home – whatever the reason - are also eligible for educational rights and services as homeless students.

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HOMELESS STUDENT ASSISTANCE (MCKINNEY-VENTO)

IF YOU LIVE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS, YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN RIGHTS OR PROTECTIONS UNDER THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ASSISTANCE ACT:

• Do not have a permanent address

• Share housing with relatives or friends because you lost your housing or employment

• Live in a shelter or motel

• Live in a campground, car, park, street or other temporary shelter

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ELIGIBLE STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

• Enroll in school immediately even without proof of address

• Choose your child’s last school or school closest to where you are living

• Get transportation to and from school for your child

• Participate in your child’s education

• Dispute enrollment or transportation decisions

• Receive program services:

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 * School supplies * Immediate access to school meals * Educational advocacy and support * Referrals to community agencies * Special events and activities.
 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE: