The Oak Harbor Schools Families In Transition program implements the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act and serves over 300 students in our district who are experiencing housing insecurities.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act of 1987 provides support for homeless children and youth to continue their education without interruption or barriers. If your family is homeless, or if you are in a temporary living situation due to economic circumstances, your preschool-aged and school-aged children have certain rights or protections under federal law.

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

1. Children sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing or similar reasons;
2. Children living in "motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations"
3. Children living in "emergency or transitional shelters"
4. Children whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
5. Children living in "cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations…"
6. Migratory children (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (a) through (e).

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures homeless children transportation to and from school free of charge, allowing children to attend their school of origin (last school enrolled or the school they attended when they first become homeless) regardless of what 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.

Contact

Nadine Cushway
Student and Family Support Specialist/Foster Care Liaison
360.279.5784

Forms & Resources

School Board Policy - Education of Homeless Students
Homeless Notification Form
Housing Questionaire
McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution
McKinney-Vento in Lieu of Transportation Contract Agreement
McKinney-Vento Transportation Request