Skip to main content

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.

District Contact

McKinney-Vento Liaison and Foster Care Point of Contact

S. Schmidt
541-355-1037
541-246-7409 (text only)

Oregon Department of Education

McKinney-Vento Act: Homeless Education Program

Family Access Network

FAN advocates link children and families to critical basic need services with the goal of keeping children healthy and in school. Family Access Network Webpage