McKinney-Vento for Parents & Students

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that provides educational rights and services to children and youth experiencing homelessness. It ensures they have access to a free and appropriate public education, including immediate enrollment and the right to continue attending their school of origin, even if they move. 
 

Definition of Homelessness
The Act defines homelessness broadly, including children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, or who are living in temporary housing arrangements like shelters, motels, or with others due to loss of housing. 

Educational Rights
The Act guarantees homeless children and youth the right to immediate enrollment in school, even if they lack necessary documents or are living in temporary housing. 

School of Origin
The Act allows homeless children and youth to continue attending their school of origin (the last school they were enrolled in before becoming homeless) even if they are no longer residing in that school district. 

Transportation
The Act requires schools to provide transportation to and from school for homeless students. 

Support Services
The Act authorizes the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which provides funding for states and school districts to offer various support services, including:

• Enrollment and attendance supports: Assisting with enrollment, attendance, and staying in school. 
• Transportation: Ensuring access to transportation. 
• Educational support: Providing resources and services to meet their educational needs. 
• Other supports: Hygiene items, clothing, and other essential resources. 
   

Designated Liaison
Each school district is required to have a homeless education liaison who is responsible for identifying, enrolling, and serving homeless children and youth. 

Do you live in any of the following situations?

• In a shelter
• In a park, campground or on the beach
• In a motel/hotel
• In a car, abandoned building or on the street
• Living with friends or relatives due to loss of housing or economic hardship
• Awaiting foster care placement
• Inadequate living conditions (without water, heat or electricity, unsafe housing)
• Unaccompanied youth experiencing any of the situations above

Once a student is determined eligible, that student receives services (including free lunch) for the entire school year, even if they become permanently housed.

In Need of emergency housing?

First Call For Help:  211 or 1-800-310-5454

Emergency Shelter Services
645 Pipestone Road
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
269-277-5055

 

The ARK/Catholic Family & Youth Services
990 W. Kilgore Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
24-hour Crisis line: 1-800-873-8336

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services (DASAS)
PO Box 402
Three Rivers, MI  49093
269-273-6154  Crisis Line:  800-828-2023

Decatur Family Shelter
210 East Delaware
Decatur, MI  49045
269-605-4526

Salvation Army Men's Shelter
233 Michigan Street
Benton Harbor, MI  49022
269-927-1353

Sylvia's Place (Domestic Assault Shelter)
PO Box 13
Allegan, MI  49010
24 Hour Crisis Line: 269-673-8700

 

Advocacy

• Conduct training for school and community agency staff regarding McKinney-Vento.
   
• Assist with McKinney-Vento eligibility questions, immediate school enrollment or difficulties in securing transportation to the school of origin.
   
• Promote needs and rights of students experiencing homelessness within community.

Transportation

• Provide funding and coordination for stop-gap transportation.
   
• Offer creative solutions to transportation challenges such as rides to and from after-school tutoring and parent-teacher conferences.

School Supplies

• Distribute school supplies, including backpacks, notebooks, folders, pens, pencil and calculators.
   
• Necessities, including personal hygiene items such as deodorant, shampoo, soap, etc.

Clothing

• Provide socks, underwear, coats, hats and gloves (while supplies last).
   
• Provide clothing through referrals from area thrift shops.

Education-Related Financial Assistance

• Assist students with school-related financial needs that cannot be met in other ways, such as fees for credit recovery, graduation, extra-curricular activities, field trips and summer school courses.

Post-Secondary Support

• Help unaccompanied youth fill out their Federal Financial Aid form and college applications.

Early Childhood

• Connect families with children ages 0-3 with Early On services.
   
• Free, quality preschool programs

 

Housing Crisis

• Help families access emergency assistance and access to housing.

Outreach

• Work to reconnect students who have dropped out of school with an educational option that best meets their needs.

Other Referrals

• EPHY makes referrals to meet an array of needs, including medical, counseling, emergency food, household goods and personal items.

Where can homeless children and youth attend school?

• The school in which the child or youth was last enrolled (school of origin).
   
• The school in the attendance area where the child or youth is temporarily living.
   

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Can students experiencing homelessness be denied enrollment if the parent/guardian does not have proof of residency?

No.  The parent/guardian may sign an affidavit stating that the family is staying in temporary accommodations.
 

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What if the parent/guardian does not have the school records for a child experiencing homelessness? 

• Ask that the homeless child or youth be enrolled in school until the records arrive.
   
• Ask that a student’s immunization records be transferred over the phone from the sending school to the receiving school.
   
• Contact the Berrien County McKinney Project, your school district, principal, counselor, or local homeless education liaison with any concerns.
   

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Can a student who is homeless be enrolled without records?

Yes. In fact, the law requires IMMEDIATE enrollment. Schools CANNOT require proof of residency, immunization or student records for enrollment of students who are homeless.
 

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Who can sign emergency cards or field trip permission forms for unaccompanied youth?

A shelter, agency representative, or caseworker can sign permission slips for an unaccompanied youth in school. If the student is staying with another family, the adult/parent there may complete a Caregiver Authorization Form and sign for the student. The district liaison could also sign.

Please see National Center of Homeless Education for more assistance.

Berrien County Emergency Shelter Services 
269-277-5055

Van Buren County Housing Resource Specialist
Deborah Kupres:  269-330-4556

Department Of Health And Human Services Area Locations:

Berrien County
401 Eighth Street / PO Box 1407
Benton Harbor, MI  49023
Phone:  269-934-2000  
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services 

Cass County
325 M-62
Cassopolis, MI  49031
Phone:  269-445-0200    
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services

Van Buren County
57150 C R 681
Hartford, MI  49057
Phone:  269-621-2800    
Contact:  Judy Gilbert
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services

Van Buren County Satellite Location
Michigan Works! Service Center
32849 Red Arrow Hwy 
Paw Paw, MI  49079
Phone:  269-657-7014

Additional Resources

EmPower:  855-300-8013
truenorthservices

Keystone Place, Inc. 
(serving Cass County on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 5 PM)
DHS Office, 352 M-62
Cassopolis, MI  49031
Contact:  Emily Henry  
Phone: 269-445-0229

Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency
800-334-7670 or 269-925-9077
SMCAA Website

Student Rights

If you live temporarily in a shelter, motel, vehicle, campground, on the street, in abandoned buildings, a temporary foster care placement or doubled up with relatives or friends, you are considered eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act. These students have the right to:

• Continue in their "school of origin" (the school they last attended when permanently housed or the school they last attended), if that is your choice and it is feasible, or attend the neighborhood school where you are currently living.
• Receive transportation to the school of origin if requested.
• Immediately enroll and attend classes without providing a permanent address, past school or immunization records, proof of guardianship, etc. You still must fill out enrollment packets.
• Receive free lunch.
• Receive equal access to education and support services and if eligible, participate in before– and after-school activities.
   

School Responsibilities

By federal law, school staff must identify, immediately enroll and serve students in homeless or temporary living situations.

• Review your district's / school's procedure template.
• Attend a county-wide training to learn more. 

Other Tips for School Staff

• Appoint a McKinney-Vento ally in your school.
• Include the Residency Questionnaire in your enrollment packet; sending it home at least once mid-year.
• Have Education Project referrals handy.
• Make sure you have a poster in your school from the National Center of Homeless Education.