Parents, Guardians, and Youth

The Educational Rights of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness 

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires that children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to educational and other services necessary to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held. State and local education agencies are required to remove barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, and academic success of children and youth experiencing homelessness (42 U.S.C. §§11431-11432). 

For more information on the rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness, please review the Arizona Homeless Education Program Sample Rights of Homeless Students. 

 

Potentially Qualifying Living Situations 

To qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, children and youth may be living in situations such as:  

  • Sharing housing with other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason, 
  • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations, 
  • Living in emergency or transitional shelters,  
  • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, or 
  • Having a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. 

 

Parents and Guardians

If you believe that your or your child(ren)’s living situation may qualify them for the educational rights and services ensured under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please reach out to your school district’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison. Read more about how they can help below.  

Youth

If you believe that your living situation may qualify you for the educational rights and services ensured under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, even if you are not in the physical custody of a parent or court-appointed guardian, please reach out your school district’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison. Read more about how they can help below. 

 

Who can I contact to find out if my child qualifies?

Every school district has a local McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison who determines if students qualify for services. They can help you decide which school is the best for your child to attend, and help with enrolling in and communicating with your child’s school. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison can also help your child get school supplies, supplemental services, and free school meals; set up transportation to and from the school of origin; and help you find community supports.  

If you would like to connect with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison at your child’s school district, you may do so by accessing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Contact List. Locate your child’s school district and McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison on this list and contact them at the email address or phone number they have provided.  

If you are unsure what school district or McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison you should contact or have any difficulty reaching them, please contact our office by emailing [email protected] or by calling (602) 542-4963.