McKinney-Vento Act

Section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by the ESSA, defines the following terms:

(a) Homeless children and youths means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term includes—

(1) Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals.

(2) Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

(3) Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

(4) Migratory children (as defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended), who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described in this definition.

(b) Enroll and enrollment include attending classes and participating fully in school activities.

Information for Parents

If your family lives in any of the following situations:

In a shelter
In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

Your school-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.

Your eligible children have the right to:

Receive a free, appropriate public education.
Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference.
- * If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

If you believe your children may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available. There also may be supports available for your preschool-age children.

Resources

McKinney-Vento Program Releases Hope Map Georgia Resource Locator

Created in collaboration with FoodFinder, Hope Map Georgia is a comprehensive, easy-to-use, and up-to-date online community resource locator that can help Georgia families, children, youth, and communities locate free services that mitigate the effects of homelessness. Hope Map Georgia allows users to locate and learn about free assistance and resources – including resources for food, shelter/housing, childcare, and more – in their geographic area or throughout the state of Georgia. Please take a moment to share and explore Hope Map Georgia with your district and community.

Hope Map Georgia

McKinney-Vento Hope Map Georgia PDF