THE McKINNEY-VENTO ASSISTANCE ACT
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as individuals who:
• lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;
• live in an abandoned building, parked car, or other facility unfit for human habitation;
• are abandoned in hospitals;
• are placed by the state in an emergency shelter;
• share housing with another family due to loss of housing or economic hardship;
• live in a motel or hotel;
• live in emergency or transitional shelters;
• live in a trailer park or campsite with their family;
• are awaiting foster placement; or
• are migratory children that qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above
STUDENTS' RIGHTS
• Schools must immediately enroll homeless students even if they lack required documents
• Temporarily with an adult that is not the parent/ guardian due to loss of housing;
• On their own without a parent/guardian (runaway or unaccompanied youth);
• In a home for minor unwed mothers.
• If transcripts missing, enroll immediately and request records from previous school.
• Students with out-of-district, IEP’s, outdated IEP’s must be enrolled immediately in an interim placement pending a 30 day evaluation. Consult with Division of Special Education.
• Homeless students can continue to attend their last school of enrollment, or enroll in the school in the area where the family is temporarily residing.
• The “school of origin” (the school attended when permanently housed or the last school attended, or within the past 15 months.
• If the family gains permanent housing, the student can remain at the current school for the duration of that academic year.
• Unless the student is attending their “home school” or school of residence, they do not have the right to attend the next matriculating school. Upon matriculation, they must attend the school in the area in which they are temporarily residing.
HOMELESS SCHOOL SITE LIAISONS
In accordance with the federal McKinney-Vento Assistance Act, Duarte Unified School District offers families in transition a stable educational experience for their children. To determine if your child is eligible for these services, please complete this Student Residency Questionnaire and return it to the Main Office at your child’s school.
If you have questions regarding services for Homeless Youth within Duarte Unified, please contact Naelh Othman, District Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison, at (626) 599-5019 or nothman@duarteusd.org.
Homeless Youth Resources:
