Welcome to Homeless Education Program

THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT: HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM

The mission of the Homeless Education Program is to ensure positive comparable academic outcomes for children and youth experiencing homelessness through implementation of the McKinney-Vento statute. 

Homeless students are those who lack a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are sharing the housing of other persons due to a loss of housing, economic harship or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accomodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals. The definition includes migratory students who live in the aforementioned situations. Beginning December 10th, 2016, "those awaiting foster care placement" are not included in the definition.

To learn more about the Arizona Department of Education's Homeless Education Program, view the following brief overview video:

ADE's Homeless Education Program Overview

Parent and Family Rights

The McKinney-Vento Act provides certain rights for students experiencing homelessness.  They include waiving certain requirements such as proof of residency when students are enrolling and allowing catergorical eligibility for certain services, such as free textbooks.  The Act also states,

  • Homeless students may attend their school of origin or the school where they are temporarily residing;

  • Homeless students must be provided a written statement of their rights when they enroll and at least two times per year;

  • Homeless students may enroll without school, medical, or similar records;

  • Homeless students have a right to transportation to school;

  • Students must be provided a statement explaining why they are denied any service or enrollment;

  • Students must receive services, such as transportation, while disputes are being settled;

  • Students are automatically eligible for Title I services;

  • School districts must reserve a portion of Title IA funds to serve homeless students;

  • School districts must review and revise policies that provide barriers to homeless students;

  • Schools must post information in the community regarding the rights of homeless students, in schools and other places that homeless families may frequent; and

  • School districts must identify a McKinney Vento Liaison to assist students.

NEED TO ENROLL A STUDENT?

New to Arizona and need to find out what school district to enroll your student in?

Have you recently moved to a new location due to the loss of housing and want to enroll your child in the local area school district?

Click here to find your local school district.

Experiencing a loss of housing, due to economic harship or similar reason and need assistance with school enrollment? Every school district has a McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison who can help you and your child. 

Click here to find your local McKinney-Vento Liaison.