The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1986 is a federal law that provides money for homeless shelter programs. Homeless children also are entitled to the protections of the McKinney-Vento Act.

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 sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing
  • Children living in “motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations”
  • Children living in “emergency or transitional shelters”
  • Children whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g., park benches, etc.)
  • Children living in “cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations”

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures homeless children transportation to and from school free of charge, allowing them to attend their school of origin (the last school in which the student was enrolled or the school the student was attending when last permanently housed) regardless of the district the family resides in. It requires schools to register homeless children even if they lack normally required documents, such as immunization records or proof of residence.

The district provides the following types of services for students and families experiencing homelessness and/or for unaccompanied youth:

  • Assistance with school registration.
  • Acting as a liaison between schools, shelters, parents, and students.
  • Arranging transportation for students to continue attending the same school even if they move out of school boundaries.
  • Providing tutoring
  • Providing school supplies and emergency clothing needs.
  • Assisting families in finding resources in the community.

If you’re experiencing a loss of housing or otherwise meet the definition of homeless, please contact Brenda Shallberger at 360-833-5410 or brenda.schallberger@camas.wednet.edu.

Rights

You have the right to register your child for school even if you do not have all the documentation, such as immunization records, utility bills, birth certificates, etc.

  • Once registered, your child can begin attending school within one or two days.
  • Your child has the right to stay in the same school even if you move, if it is feasible and in the best interests of him or her.
  • Your child will be provided with school transportation, such as school buses, city bus passes, or gas vouchers.
  • Your children are entitled to free lunch and breakfast at school without the need to fill out the form.
  • Your child must not be isolated or stigmatized.

The above services will continue until the end of the school year, when homelessness ends for your family.

Additional Information about McKinney-Vento can be found on OSPI’s website:

http://www.k12.wa.us/homelessed

Dispute Resolution

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act acknowledges that disputes may arise between the school district and homeless students and their parents or unaccompanied youth when the district seeks to place a student in a school other than the school of origin or the school requested by the parent or unaccompanied youth. The Act includes dispute resolution among the required duties of the local education agency (LEA) liaison. The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has developed a dispute resolution process as required by the McKinney-Vento Act. This process can be found here: http://www.k12.wa.us/HomelessEd/Resources.aspx