McKinney-Vento (Unhoused) & Family Resources

District McKinney-Vento Liaison
Melissa McGann
(253) 983-2216 || mmcgann@steilacoom.k12.wa.us

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for unhoused children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to the state for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve unhoused students.

Who is considered McKinney-Vento eligible?

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

Education Rights of Children and Youth Who Qualify for Services and Assistance

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 Melissa McGann.