Families in Transition (McKinney-Vento)
Our district is committed to ensuring that every student has a stable educational experience, regardless of their current housing situation. If your family is in a transitional living arrangement—whether you are staying in a shelter, a motel, or sharing a home with others due to financial hardship—your children have specific rights under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.
We are here to remove barriers to your child’s education and ensure they have the same opportunity to succeed as any other student.
Does My Family Qualify?
Under the McKinney-Vento Act and Board Policy IGBCA, "homeless" children and youth are individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are:
- Doubled-up: Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons.
- Transitional Housing: Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative accommodations.
- Shelters: Living in emergency or transitional shelters or abandoned in hospitals.
- Unsheltered: Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or public spaces not designed for sleeping.
- Migratory Children: Children living in any of the circumstances described above.
- Unaccompanied Youth: Children or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian who are living in any of the situations mentioned above.
Your Rights and Protections
If your family is in a transitional situation, our district will ensure that:
- Immediate Enrollment: Your child can start school immediately, even if you are missing typically required documents like immunization records, birth certificates, or proof of residency. Enrollment will not be delayed by outstanding fines, fees, or absences.
- School Stability: Students have the right to stay in their "school of origin" (the school they attended when permanently housed or where they were last enrolled) if it is in their best interest.
- Transportation: We will provide transportation to and from the school of origin at your request, provided it is in the student's best interest. This continues for the remainder of the school year even if the student becomes permanently housed.
- Automatic Services: Students are automatically eligible for free school meals and any Title I services, preschool programs, or vocational programs offered by the district.
Dispute Resolution
If a dispute arises over eligibility, school selection, or enrollment, the student will be immediately enrolled in the school requested by the parent or youth and will receive transportation (if requested) while the dispute is being resolved. You can find our full Board Policy on these procedures here:
Board Policy IGBCA.
Contact Your Liaison
Our District Homeless Liaison is your primary point of contact for navigating these services, obtaining records, and coordinating transportation.
Misty Dodson, District Homeless Liaison
Office: 573-712-2197
Additional Resources