The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that works to ensure educational stability for homeless youth.  The McKinney-Vento act allows homeless students to enroll in school and receive transportation without delay.  The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.”  Examples of children who fall under this definition include:

• (a) Children sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing;
• (b) Children living in “motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations”
• (c) Children living in “emergency or transitional shelters”
• (d) Children “awaiting foster care placement”
• (e) Children whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc.)
• (f) Children living in “cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations…”

Who are Homeless Children and Youth?

Naperville Community Unit School District #203 is committed to educating students who meet the guidelines under McKinney-Vento.  If you have further questions regarding homelessness, please contact our District Homeless Liaison, Stacy Colgan, at 630-579-7127.

For more information regarding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please visit:http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/legislation.html