McKinney-Vento (Unhoused)

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

• Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
• Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
• Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
• Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
• Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g., park benches, etc.)
• Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
• Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations

Our schools provide equal and comparable access to all students regardless of their home living situation. McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth have specific rights that include:

• Maintain attendance at the school of origin-current school for the remainder of the current school year (if this is in the child's best interest and feasible) or enroll in the neighborhood school currently residing;
• Transportation assistance if needed;
• Eligible for FREE food services;
• Appropriate support services and programs for which they are eligible, such as  Child Find and preschool, children with disabilities, gifted, vocational education, FAFSA assistance, etc.;
• Receive academic assistance through the district's federally funded Title I program; and
• Parent or guardian involvement in school activities.

If the school district places your child(ren) in a school other than the school of origin or the school you request, you have the right to appeal that decision.  The Dispute Resolution Process can be found here: OSPI Dispute Resolution Process

As part of the process, you will need to complete the McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Process Petition to Appeal Form.

If you have a student/child who may qualify for McKinney-Vento service or would like more information, please contact your school counselor or our district liaison Kari Terjeson.

Students identified as unhoused under the McKinney-Vento Act automatically qualify for free and reduced-price meals upon enrollment.  

• National Center for Homeless Education
• What You Need to Know to Help Your Child in School
• Metropolitan Development Council of Tacoma 
• Nourish Food Banks of Pierce County
• Caring for Kids 
• APPLE Health/Medicaid, for Kids & Adults
• Additional School, Family & Community Resources

• National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)
• OSPI: Students Experiencing Homelessness
• SchoolHouse Connection