Homeless Education

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, ensures that children and youth experiencing homelessness have full and equal access to an appropriate public education and experience. Homeless students have the same right to a quality education as their housed peers. The definition of homelessness includes children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Children and youth who are experiencing one of the conditions below, may be considered as homeless:

• Sharing housing with relatives, friends, or strangers due to economic hardship or lack of housing;

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters;

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to economic hardship or lack of housing;

• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations, or abandoned buildings;

• Migratory children or youth living in circumstances described above; and/or

• Unaccompanied youth, meaning youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, such as runaways and youth denied housing by their families

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures educational rights and protection for youth and children experiencing homelessness.

Families who think they may qualify for services under McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act should contact Montgomery County Public Schools McKinney-Vento Liaison, Paige Walters at 540-382-5100 x1026 or pwalters@mcps.org