The McKinney-Vento Act defines homelessness as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes situations like living in shelters, motels, cars or doubled up with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship.
The McKinney-Vento Act emphasizes the importance of school stability for homeless children and youth. Changing schools multiple times significantly impedes a student’s academic and social growth.
Students experiencing homelessness face unique barriers beyond poverty, such as frequent school transfers, lack of transportation, lack of fixed address for enrollment and the stigma and fear of homelessness. As a result, the Contoocook Valley School District assigned a McKinney-Vento liaison to assist students and their families in accessing supports and services as well as access to their educational programming. A McKinney-Vento outreach worker also works for the school district and supports students and families in their communities with resources such as housing, community supports, paperwork and agency advocacy. These resources are supported primarily by federal grant funding and are in jeopardy. Adequate funding is key to effective implementation. Collaboration between schools, community organizations, social workers and other agencies strengthens the safety net for students experiencing homelessness and provides access to a broader range of resources.
The recent national average graduation rate for homeless students was 68 percent, lagging behind economically disadvantaged students at 81 percent and all students at an 87 percent graduation rate. The support and protection from the McKinney-Vento Act attempts to address the educational gap to prevent the widening that could significantly impact the futures of our most vulnerable students.
Homelessness takes an emotional toll on students through anxiety, depression and social isolation which can further impact the learning of these students. The McKinney-Vento Act specifically identifies ways to address these challenges through the following:
Providing Equal Access:
Homeless students have the right to attend their school of origin (if in their best interest) or enroll in the local school, regardless of where they are temporarily living.
Ensuring Immediate Enrollment:
They can enroll in school immediately, even without typical enrollment documents like school records, proof of residency or immunization records.
Providing Transportation:
The Local Education Agency must provide or arrange transportation to and from the school of origin, ensuring students can maintain their school placement. This requirement has had a significant impact on school district budgets as this mandate is unfunded.
Access to Services:
Homeless students are entitled to all services for which they are eligible, including Title I programs, free school meals and special education services.
Providing Supportive Services:
The act also allows for other services like tutoring, referrals for healthcare and assistance with school supplies.
The importance of the McKinney-Vento Act extends beyond simply providing access to education; it is an investment in the future of our communities. Education is a powerful tool to break the cycle of homelessness, as students who lack a high school diploma or GED are 4.5 times more likely to experience homelessness later in life. While federal, state and district policymakers have a role in creating policies that help prevent students from becoming homeless in the first place, ensuring robust funding and enforcement of the McKinney-Vento Act is crucial to mitigating the impact when homelessness occurs.
The McKinney-Vento program is currently underfunded, reaching only a fraction of school districts and providing an average of less than $82 per identified student experiencing homelessness. Expanded funding would enable districts to hire more dedicated staff, provide more comprehensive support and address the root causes of educational disruption caused by homelessness. Approximately 9 percent of homeless students are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. These students are often homeless as a result of abuse and neglect, but are not in the custody of child welfare agencies. They face additional educational barriers and are at high risk of trafficking and predation.
The McKinney-Vento Act is essential legislation, a testament to the commitment to educational equity for all children. By ensuring that students experiencing homelessness have the same opportunities as their peers, society is fulfilling a moral obligation and investing in its future. It is necessary to advocate for increased and sustained funding, which is in jeopardy, and foster a collective commitment within schools and communities. The goal of the Contoocook Valley School District is to remove barriers and build bridges to educational success for every student, regardless of their living situation.
Resources for this document come from AI-generated information as well as information from “The Education for Homeless Children and Youth,” a SchoolHouse Connection resource.
Cari Coates is the McKinney-Vento homeless liaison for the ConVal School District.