HOUSING INSTABILITY & MCKINNEY VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT

  • The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is authorized under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) (McKinney-Vento Act).  The McKinney-Vento Act was originally authorized in 1987 and re-authorized on December 10, 2016 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  The McKinney-Vento Act is designed to address the challenges that the homeless and youth have faced in enrolling, attending and succeeding in school.

    Under the McKinney-Vento Act, state educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth.  Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and related services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.  In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment.  SEAs and local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth.

    Definition of McKinney-Vento  

     

  • BCSC LIAISON:

    Janae Norman, Student Assistance Coordinator

    McKinney-Vento District Liaison

    BCSC Administration Building

    normanja@bcsc.k12.in.us

    812.376.4555

     

  • INDIANA DEPT OF EDUCATION CONTACTS:

    Flora Jones, Director of Student Pathways

    Cherie Gibson, IDOE Homeless Education Specialist

    McKinneyVentoPOC@doe.in.gov

    (317) 232-0957

     

     

     

  • ELIGIBLE CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

    • Receive a free, appropriate public education.
    • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
    • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
    • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference.   * If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
    • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
    • Receive educational services comparable to those provided for other students, according to your children’s needs.