Homeless Program

The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is to identify and remove barriers for children and youth experiencing homelessness and ensure that students in these circumstances have equitable access to all available supports and resources to meet the same challenging state academic standards established for all students.

Who is Covered by the McKinney-Vento Act?

Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those who:

• Are sharing the housing of other persons (doubled up) due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals.

• Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

• Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

• Are migratory children living in the above circumstances.

• Unaccompanied youth include a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Students or parents who are in homeless situations should contact the District Homeless & Foster Care Liaison:

Stephanie Smith, 7-12 grade

Shelby Tillery, K-6 grade

409-837-5757

McKinney-Vento eligible students 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.

  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.

  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other