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The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve homeless students.
Defining Homeless
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:
- Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
- Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
- Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
- Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
- Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
- Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
- Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations
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McKinney-Vento Services
Students who are eligible for McKinney-Vento funds are entitled to receive a variety of services. The primary responsibility of the District Liaison is to eliminate any barriers to the McKinney-Vento student’s right to education and school participation comparable of that of a student who is not homeless. The following are a list of services, which the Liaison will address and are available to the Student:
· Immediate school enrollment despite missing documentation or records.
· Immediate free lunch.
· Transportation to district school or school of origin either by school bus or Transit pass.
· The right to attend the school attended prior to being displaced despite “residing” out of the district.
· Schools supplies and Tutoring referrals
· School fees waived/paid for with McKinney-Vento funds; ASB card (for those wanting play a sport or need it for another activity: band, choir…etc.), PE attire, library fees or any other fee associated with participating in school-sponsored activities. (Does not include an ASB card to attend games).
· Counseling and Social Services referrals
· Clothing Bank (located at the High School in the Business Ed Building, BE4)
· Support with the referral process for services such as special Education/Gifted/Talented
· Assistance with up to the purchase of needed documents (birth certificate, social security cards, medical records, etc.)
· Community referrals/assistance with: addressing medical issues, applying for DSHS benefits, vocational, technical, after-school programs or any other identified need considered to be a barrier to the student’s education
· *Seniors-Assistance with applying for college, completing FAFSA, financial assistance with entrance exams and application fees.
· Other services may be available on a case-by-case basis.
Please contact Brooke Heikkila Special Programs Liaison, at (360) 538-8295 or by email to bheikkila@hoquiam.net to inquire about the program or with questions.