McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Homeless Liaison: Amy Horgan - (910)251-6150 x76210 - horgana@dcvirgo.com
State Coordinator: Lisa Phillips - (336)315-7491
North Carolina Homeless Education Program

Law & Guidance

The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is the primary piece of legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The act is also known as Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

The following is the policy of the Congress:

1. Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
2. In any State where compulsory residency requirements or other requirements, in laws, regulations, practices, or policies, may act as a barrier to the identification of, or the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of, homeless children and youths, the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State will review and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.
3. Homelessness is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.
4. Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.

Eligibility:

1. Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
2. Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
3. Living in emergency or transitional shelters
4. Living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
5. Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
6. Migratory children living in the above circumstances
7. Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances

Informational pamphlets for school-aged youth and parents.