Page last updated: 06/30/18
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night time residence." The act provides examples of children who fall under this definition as:
- Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or 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 night time 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.
More information: https://www.tacomaschools.org/mv/Pages/default.aspx
Who to call or email:
McKinney-Vento Liaisons
Linda Seferian: 253-571-6791
Linda Martin: 253-571-6790
Housing and Community Resource Liaison : Samantha Iverson 253-571-6781
Foster care and MV Early Learner Liaison: Christiane Paget 253-571-6774
Under the McKinney-Vento act you have a right to an education without barriers, which means you can:
- Receive a free public education
- Enroll in school immediately, even if you lack documents normally required for enrollment
- Attend classes while the school gathers your missing documents
- Enroll in the school closest to you or the school you were last enrolled in (school of origin), even if you have been forced to relocate
- Receive transportation to and from your school of origin
- Receive all the same educational services other students receive, even if you can’t pay
- Participate in before-and-after school programs
- Receive counseling
- Receive free breakfast and lunch
- Participate in special education, bilingual, vocational and gifted programs
- Receive free school supplies
- Receive extra academic support (Title I/LAP)
- Receive evaluation for disabilities