McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, originally enacted in 1987, is a federal law designed to protect the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

The law provides eligible children and youth with important protections, including:

• Immediate enrollment, even when records or other documents normally required for enrollment are not immediately available;
• The right to remain in the school of origin, when it is determined to be in the student's best interest;
• Transportation to and from the school of origin, when applicable; and
• Access to services and supports that promote academic success and educational stability.

Who Are Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness?

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, children and youth experiencing homelessness are individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

This may include:

• Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
• Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds because they do not have access to adequate alternative housing;
• Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters or who have been abandoned in hospitals;
• Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation;
• Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
• Migratory children and youth who qualify as experiencing homelessness because they are living in any of the circumstances described above.

What Should I Do if My Family Is Experiencing Homelessness or Housing Instability?

Rahway Public Schools has a Homeless Liaison who can assist students and families experiencing homelessness, displacement, or housing instability.

Families are encouraged to contact the Homeless Liaison if they have lost housing, are temporarily staying with relatives or friends due to economic hardship, are living in temporary accommodations, or believe they may soon be displaced from their home.

The Homeless Liaison will speak with you about your family's living situation and help determine whether your child is eligible for services and protections under the McKinney-Vento Act.

Students experiencing homelessness have the right to immediate enrollment and full participation in school, even when documents normally required for enrollment are not immediately available. Federal law also includes protections intended to prevent interruptions in a student's education while eligibility or school-placement questions are being resolved.

If your child is eligible under McKinney-Vento, the Homeless Liaison will work with you to determine the educational placement that is in your child's best interest. This may include continued enrollment in the school of origin in order to provide educational stability. Transportation and other appropriate supports may also be available.

Students who qualify under McKinney-Vento may also be eligible for additional services and supports, including school meals at no cost and assistance with removing barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success.

We understand that experiencing housing instability can be an extremely difficult time for a student and family. Rahway Public Schools is committed to supporting our families, maintaining educational stability, and helping ensure that every student has continued access to school and the services they need to succeed.

Resources 

• McKinney-Vento at a Glance
• Local Community Resource Information & Links
• Find Help
• McKinney Vento en Español

Rahway Public Schools Homeless Liaison

Mrs. Helen Alvarado, halvarado@rahway.net, (732) 396-1000 x4003