McKinney-Vento Homeless Education
What is the McKinney-Vento Act, and who qualifies?
The McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) is a federal law that addresses the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The law defines "in transition" as residing at a temporary location because of a loss of housing due to economic hardship or a similar reason. Temporary living situations can include:
- Living with a friend, relative, or other person/family because of a loss of housing
- Staying in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing or fleeing domestic violence
- Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, or domestic violence shelter
- Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building, or bus station
- Living temporarily in substandard housing
- Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home
- Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter; runaway youth
- Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home
Unaccompanied Youth Definition
The McKinney-Vento Program also meets the needs of "a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian" (42 USC §11434a(6), 2001). Youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and lacking a fixed, regular and adequate residence are referred to as unaccompanied homeless youth. Youth who run away are eligible for services even if the parent/guardian/caregiver wishes the student to return home. Some reasons a youth may be on his/her include, but are not limited to, family dysfunction, parental neglect, abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, or substance), incarceration, illness, and deportation. Runaway and unaccompanied homeless youth are eligible to enroll immediately without a legal guardian. Under the McKinney-Vento Program, there is no age limit for an unaccompanied homeless or runaway youth as long as the student is eligible for K-12 public education in NC. Schools must immediately alert the School McKinney-Vento Liaison or the District McKinney-Vento Liaison if presented with a possible runaway or unaccompanied homeless youth.
