The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, indicates that State Educational Agencies (SEAs) must ensure that homeless children and youths have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as is provided to other children and youths. The SEA and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in the State must review and revise any laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youths. Homeless students must also have access to the education and other services that they need to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.

 

Eligibility

You might qualify for assistance through a federal law called the McKinney -Vento Act if your family lives in the following:

§   In a Shelter

§   In a motel or campground due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodation

§   In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station

§   Doubled-up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

 

Who can I talk with about my child's education?

1. Every school district has a local homeless education liaison.

Richard Deadmond is the liaison for Sandoval CUSD #501. Please contact him by email at richard.deadmond@sandoval501.org or phone at 618-247-3450.

2. Talk with your child's teachers when you enroll him or her in school. Meet with them on a regular basis to discuss your child's academic progress.

3. Meet with the school counselor to discuss the best interventions to use to assist with any changes or challenges he or she is facing.

4. The school principal, attendance officer, bus driver, social worker, school nurse, or district staff can all provide valuable assistance. Please reach out to them as needed.

Dispute Resolution

What is dispute resolution? For purposes of homeless education and pupils, dispute resolution is the formal process available to districts/schools and parents/guardians/unaccompanied youth should a dispute arise regarding a pupil’s eligibility for homeless services under federal and state law. The dispute resolution process is:

1. The only mechanism that can formally determine the outcome of a homeless-related dispute between an eligible student and a district.

2. A method of sensitively resolving disagreements with respect to the eligibility of a student.

3. To be used for resolving disputes regarding enrollment, full participation in school activities, transportation, and any other issue related to a pupil’s homelessness.

4. To be structured as informally as possible in order to allow parents/guardians/unaccompanied youth as much assistance as possible in navigating the process. 5. A method by which districts/schools and parents/guardians/unaccompanied youth can provide both oral and written testimony with respect to arguments to be made.

List of local services allowed under McKinney-Vento:

  • Tutoring or other instructional support

  • Referrals for medical, dental, and other health services

  • Assistance with participation in school programs

  • Obtaining or transferring records necessary for enrollment

  • Coordination between schools and agencies

  • Clothing to meet a school requirement.

  • Emergency assistance related to school attendance.

  • Addressing needs related to domestic violence.

  • Referral to other programs and services

  • Expedited evaluations.

  • Transportation

  • Early Childhood programs

  • School Mentoring/summer school Programs

  • Parent education related to resources.

  • Counseling

  • School Supplies

Student and Parent rights-

Your eligible children have the right to:

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education.

  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.

  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.

  • Enroll in the local school: or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your

    preference.

    • If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.

  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.

  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

Reference

National Center for Homeless Education, [n.d.], What you need to know to help your child in school, https://nchehelpline.org/collections/limit-5/products/parent-booklet-english.