The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures the educational rights and protections of children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness, also referred to as “transitional” within our district, refers to lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Examples include the following:

• Sharing housing (doubling up) due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

• Living in hotels, motels, temporary mobile homes, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative adequate housing

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters

• Abandoned in hospitals

• Living in public or private places not designated for, or normally used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar places

• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above

• Immigrant, migrant, and unaccompanied minors who lack parental support

• Lacking adequate heat, electricity, and/or water

• Having unsafe heating or electrical services that present a clear and present danger

• Displaying demonstrably unsafe conditions, such as gaping holes in flooring

• Experiencing a kitchen or plumbing that is completely inoperable

• Condemned by housing or other government authorities

• Overcrowding to the point that it is unsafe or not in meeting with fire code

1. The “school of origin” is defined as the school that a child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled, including preschool. The “school of origin” also includes the receiving school at the next grade level for all feeder schools. Typically, we presume that the school of origin is in the student’s best interest, except when doing so is contrary to the request of the parent or guardian, or, (in the case of an unaccompanied youth) the youth. The school of origin usually provides the least interruption to a child’s education.

2. The school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area are eligible to attend.

Placement of the student should always be in the student’s best interest and the least interruptive of continued education, relationships, etc.

• The Transitional Education Liaisons and staff interview families to determine eligibility based upon criteria as set forth by McKinney-Vento.

• Families may be referred through the District Welcome Center, school staff, and shelters.

The McKinney-Vento Act requires schools to enroll homeless students even if they do not immediately have the paperwork normally needed.

School records, immunization, or health records should be obtained as soon as possible.

• Homeless youth that are completely on their own without any parental support

• Homeless youth staying with a non-custodial caregiver

The entire duration of the homelessness or until the end of the school year in which the student becomes permanently housed

Students who become homeless over the summer may also remain in their school of origin for the upcoming school year.

If you believe you or your child may be eligible for McKinney-Vento Homeless Services, please contact our Homeless Coordinator for more information.

Bill Harris

Homeless Coordinator

Phone: 405-375-4080

email: bharris@kingfisher.k12.ok.us