McKinney-Vento Act

  • The McKinney-Vento Act program is designed to address the problems that students in transition have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this program, State Education Agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as other children and youth. Homeless children and youth should have access to the education and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging New York State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. States and districts are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth. For more information about the application of these laws, contact the OCR enforcement office that serves your state or the WSC District Liaison.