You may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.

If you live in any of the following situations:

• Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship;
• A shelter;
• A motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation;
• A car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station.  

As an eligible student you 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 your school of origin (the school you attended when permanently housed or the school in which you were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible. 
  If the school district believes that the school selected is not in your best interest, the district must provide you 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.
• Received educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your needs as a student. 

FORMS

• A Parents guide to the Rights of Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness 
• Third Party Custodial Form

 – Homeless Students – 

Homeless students are those who lack a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence. This includes students who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals. The definition includes migratory students who live in the aforementioned situations. Beginning Dec. 10, 2016, “those awaiting foster care placement” are not included in the definition.

 – SACS’ District Liaison – 

Jeanine Kleber, Director of Student Learning
jkleber@sacs.k12.in.us
260-431-2018

Homeless Students’ Rights

IDOE’s Mckinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Program