"What homeless children need most of all is a home. While they are experiencing homelessness, however, children desperately need to remain in school. School is one of the few stable, secure places in the lives of homeless children and youth - a place where they can acquire the skills needed to help them escape poverty."
-National Coalition for the Homeless
McKinney-Vento Overview
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Program holds learning for all students as its highest priority through removing barriers to learning for homeless children and youth. Strong district and community collaborations and partnerships are key elements of the program.
The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program's major responsibility is to implement the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. Youth experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied youth must have access to public school educational programs and services that allow them to meet the same challenging state academic standards to which all students are held.
The District has resources to help families and students who find themselves in a situation where they may be homeless. Call our McKinney-Vento Office at (920) 448-7326 for resource and referral information.
Links to Resource Information
Contact Information
Program Requirements
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Identify and immediately enroll any homeless child or youth (preschool to grade 12), even without academic or medical records.
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Continue children or youth in their "school of origin" for the duration of their homelessness.
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Inform parents/guardians of the educational rights of their children.
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Provide transportation, at the request of the parent, to the school of origin for the duration of homelessness. If a youth becomes stably housed during the school year, transportation supports can continue until the end of the academic school year.
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Ensure no barriers exist (for example, residency requirements, lack of transportation, or school fees) for full educational participation for students and parents.
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Develop partnerships with community agencies to identify and assist with basic services for homeless families, children and youth.
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Ensure homeless students are not segregated or stigmatized.
Definition of Homeless Children and Youth
The term 'homeless children and youth' means school-aged individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence due to economic hardship. It includes children and youth who:
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Are temporarily sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
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Are living in motels, hotels, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
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Are living in emergency and transitional shelters.
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Are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement.
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Have a nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
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Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
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Are runaway children or children who are abandoned.