Office of Educational Services & Support

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education

The principal differences between the current McKinney-Vento program and the predecessor program include the following:

• Express prohibition against segregating homeless students - including separate schools or separate programs within a school, based on the child or youth’s status as homeless.
• Requirement for transportation to and from school of origin upon request of the parent, guardian or the liaison of unaccompanied youth.
• Immediate school enrollment requirement   If a dispute arises over school selection or placement, an LEA must admit a homeless child or youth to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute.
• Changes in “best interest” determination  LEAs must make school placement determinations on the basis of the “best interest” of the child or youth.  LEAs must to the extent feasible keep a homeless child or youth in the school of origin unless doing so is contrary to the wishes of the child or youth’s parent or guardian.
• Local liaison in all school districts  whether or not an LEA receives a McKinney-Vento grant, they must designate a liaison.