McKinney-Vento/Homeless Information

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that protects the educational rights of children and youth who are experiencing homelessness.

Legal Definition of McKinney-Vento Eligibility

Under 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2), a child or youth is considered homeless when they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

The law specifically includes children and youth who are:

• Sharing the housing of other people because of loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
• Living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground because they lack adequate alternative accommodations.
• Living in an emergency or transitional shelter.
• Living in a public or private place that is not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations.
• Living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting.
• Migratory children who are living in circumstances described above.

An unaccompanied youth is a student who meets the definition of homeless and is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

What do "fixed, regular, and adequate" mean?

• Fixed: A residence that is stationary, permanent, and not subject to change.
• Regular: A residence that is used on a predictable, consistent basis.
• Adequate: A residence that meets the physical and psychological needs normally met by a home environment.

A student does not have to be living on the street or in a shelter to qualify for McKinney-Vento services. For example, a student temporarily living with another family because their own housing was lost may qualify. Eligibility is determined based on the circumstances of each student or family.

Students experiencing homelessness have specific rights under the McKinney-Vento Act.

Eligible students have the right to:

• Enroll in school immediately, even if normally required documents or records are unavailable.
• Attend school and participate fully in classes and school activities.
• Remain in their school of origin, when that is in the student's best interest.
• Attend the local school serving the area where the student is currently staying.
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin when the student is entitled to transportation.
• Receive assistance from the district's McKinney-Vento Liaison.
• Receive assistance obtaining school records and other necessary documentation.
• Participate in school programs and activities without being excluded because of their housing situation.
• Receive assistance resolving disagreements regarding eligibility, enrollment, school placement, or transportation.

The McKinney-Vento Act defines "enrollment" to include both attending classes and participating fully in school activities.

Important: Lack of a permanent address, school records, birth certificate, immunization records, or other normally required documentation should not prevent an eligible student from enrolling in school.

Students experiencing homelessness may have the right to remain in their school of origin or attend the local school serving the area where they are currently staying.

The school of origin is generally the school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled.

When determining placement, the district considers the best interest of the student, including factors such as the student's educational needs, continuity of instruction, transportation, and the impact of changing schools.

The law generally allows a student experiencing homelessness to remain in the school of origin when doing so is in the student's best interest. The district will work with the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth to determine the appropriate school placement.

If there is a disagreement about school placement, the student has the right to remain enrolled in and attend the school selected by the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth while the dispute is being resolved, consistent with applicable McKinney-Vento requirements.

Eligible students who attend their school of origin may be entitled to transportation.

The district's McKinney-Vento Liaison will work with the student and family to determine transportation needs and coordinate appropriate transportation.

If transportation is part of a dispute regarding a student's McKinney-Vento rights, the student must continue to receive transportation while the dispute is being resolved, as required by Illinois law.

The district's McKinney-Vento Liaison helps identify students who may qualify for McKinney-Vento services and assists students and families in accessing their educational rights.

The Liaison can assist with:

• Determining McKinney-Vento eligibility.
• Immediate school enrollment.
• School placement and school-of-origin decisions.
• Transportation.
• Obtaining school records and other documentation.
• Connecting families with school and community resources.
• Addressing barriers to attendance and participation.
• Explaining the dispute resolution process.

Contact the McKinney-Vento Liaison

McKinney-Vento Liaison: Terra Webb
Title: School Counselor
Phone: (618) 833-8502 ext. 232
Email: twebb@aj81.net

If you are unsure whether your family qualifies, please contact the Liaison. You do not have to determine eligibility on your own.

Families experiencing homelessness or housing instability may need assistance beyond what the school can provide. The district's McKinney-Vento Liaison can help connect families with available community resources.

Housing & Emergency Assistance

Union County Housing Authority
131 Hillside Terrace
Anna, IL 62906
618-833-5129

The Housing Authority can provide information regarding local housing assistance and public housing programs.

Food, Housing & Emergency Assistance

Shawnee Development Council
1000 North Main Street
Anna, IL 62906
618-833-7431

Shawnee Development Council provides a variety of community assistance programs, which may include food assistance, housing assistance, utility assistance, and other supportive services. Eligibility and availability vary.

Public Assistance & Family Services

Illinois Department of Human Services — Union County
1000 North Main Street
Anna, IL 62906
618-833-2118

Families may contact IDHS for information regarding available public assistance and community support programs.

Additional Assistance

The McKinney-Vento Liaison can help families identify additional resources for:

• Emergency or temporary housing
• Food
• Clothing
• School supplies
• Housing assistance
• Utility assistance
• Transportation
• Health services
• Family services
• Other community-based resources

The district will make every effort to resolve McKinney-Vento concerns informally and quickly.

A parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth may request a dispute resolution process if there is a disagreement regarding:

• Whether a student qualifies as homeless.
• School enrollment.
• School placement or school selection.
• Transportation.
• Full participation in school activities.
• Other rights related to the student's homeless status.

What happens if there is a dispute?

1. The district's McKinney-Vento Liaison will first attempt to resolve the disagreement.
2. If the disagreement cannot be resolved, the district will provide the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth with a written explanation of the district's decision.
3. The matter may be referred to the appropriate regional ombudsperson for dispute resolution.
4. The ombudsperson will convene the parties and attempt to resolve the dispute.
5. The student will be allowed to attend the school selected by the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth and receive transportation, when applicable, while the dispute is being resolved.
6. Decisions may be appealed through the applicable Illinois State Board of Education process.

Illinois law requires the regional dispute resolution contact to attempt to resolve a dispute within five school days, when possible.

Need Help With a Dispute?

McKinney-Vento Liaison: Terra Webb
Phone: 618-833-8502 ext. 232
Email: twebb@aj81.net

The Liaison can explain the dispute process and assist the family in accessing the appropriate resources.

Experiencing homelessness or housing instability can create significant challenges for students and families. You do not have to navigate those challenges alone.

If your family is temporarily staying with another person, living in a motel or shelter, moving between locations, living in a vehicle, or experiencing another housing situation that may meet the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness, please contact the district's McKinney-Vento Liaison.

We are here to help remove barriers so students can enroll, attend, participate, and succeed in school.