McKinney-Vento Homeless Program
Program Description
The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program, ensures that homeless children and youth are provided a free, appropriate public education, despite lack of a fixed place of residence or a supervising parent or guardian. The state public school admission statute assuring the right of homeless and other children and youth in similar circumstances to enroll in schools is ORS 339.115(7). [1]
If you live in any of the following situations:
- Sharing housing or doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship.
- In a shelter.
- In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation.
- In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station.
You may qualify for certain rights and protection under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.
Eligible students have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education.
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
- 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 their preference and is feasible.
- If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students' needs.