McKinney-Vento

 

Who are Homeless Children and Youth?

Before schools can be certain they are complying with legislation related to educating students experiencing homelessness, they must understand who can be considered homeless. The McKinney-Vento Act (Sec. 725) defines "homeless children and youths” (school-aged and younger) as:

Children and youths who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youths who are:

• Sharing the housing of other persons temporarily due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
• 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.
• Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations.
• Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in the circumstances described above.

 Unaccompanied Youth

These are youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. This would include youth living in runaway shelters, abandoned buildings, cars, on the streets, or in other inadequate housing and children and youth denied housing by their families (sometimes referred to as "throwaway" children and youth), and school-age unwed mothers, living in homes for unwed mothers, who have no other housing available.

In determining whether or not a child or youth is homeless, consider the relative permanence of the living arrangements. Determination of homelessness should be made on a case-by-case basis.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

The education provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act, which are now incorporated within Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to ensure educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The law directly applies to homeless unaccompanied youth who also receive some special attention within the Act.

The Act’s Key Provisions:

The McKinney-Vento Act (Section 725) specifies and protects the rights of children and youth in homeless situations. Highlights include:

·        Immediate Enrollment – The right to be enrolled immediately in school, without immunization or academic records, and birth certificate, regardless of district policy.

·        Transportation – Students in highly mobile or homeless situations are entitled to transportation to and from the school of origin, if it is feasible, in the student’s best interest, and requested by the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth.

·        Services – Students experiencing homelessness are entitled to the same programs and services that are available to other children in the District, such as gifted and talented education, special education, vocational education, English Language Learner services, and tutoring.

Cuero ISD McKinney-Vento Policy

Cuero ISD McKinney-Vento staff will preform the required identification process and provide the necessary support for any identified students within the district.

Students are identified via their online student registration when enrolling for the school year. The identification process is established with the Student Residency Questionnaire listed in the enrollment documentation.

McKinney-Vento staff members (located within Cuero ISD’s Student Services department) will perform their verification process according to the student’s living situation or circumstances, as indicated in the Student Residency Questionnaire.

The Student Services department will identify families and assess the student’s situation to determine eligibility on a case by case basis. Student Services works in collaboration with the campus registrars and other campus departments to provide support and services as needed.

Once it is determined that a student and/or their family meets the McKinney-Vento definition, families are coded in the school’s system and are eligible to receive services for the remainder of that school year. Eligibility is re-assessed every year to determine continuation in the McKinney-Vento program.

Students and families can be referred for homeless assistance by contacting Monica Guevara, Student Services’ McKinney-Vento/Foster Liaison (361-275-1900 Ext. 423) and Nora Garcia, Student Services’ Parent Liaison (361-275-1900 Ext. 422).