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McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

 

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is authorized under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) (McKinney-Vento Act).  The McKinney-Vento Act was originally authorized in 1987 and re-authorized on December 10, 2016 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  The McKinney-Vento Act is designed to address the challenges that homeless and youth have faced in enrolling, attending and succeeding in school.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, State educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth.  Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and related services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.  In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment.  SEAs and local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth.

Definition of Homeless (McKinney-Vento Act Sec. 725(2); 42 U.S.C. 11435(2))

Children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate night time residence:

  • “Double up” - Sharing the housing of others due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons.
  • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds, due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations.
  • Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
  • Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live.
  • Migratory children living in above circumstances.
  • Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
  • Unaccompanied Youth - Children or youth who meets the definition of homeless and are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

In transition? Unstable housing situation? West Noble School Corporation will connect you with resources to keep your academic success on track.

Housing and Educational Rights

Students who are in temporary, inadequate and homeless living situations have the following rights in West Noble School Corporation;

  • Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended or the school in whose attendance area they are currently staying even if they do not have all the documents normally required at the time of enrollment;
  • Access to free meals and textbooks, Title I and other educational programs and other comparable services including transportation;
  • Attendance in the same classes and activities that students in other living situations also participate in without fear of being separated or treated differently due to their housing situations.

Student Rights

Contacts

McKinney-Vento District Liaison

  • Name: Sarah Wilson
  • Address: West Noble School Corporation • 5050 N US Highway 33 • Ligonier, IN  46767
  • Email: wilsons@westnoble.k12.in.us
  • Phone: 260.894.3191 x5001 (Office)

IDOE Homeless Education Specialist

Forms:

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL

Be advised that you have a right to appeal the decisions made by West Noble School Corporation regarding your student’s eligibility and enrollment under Title X, Part C of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  Students involved in a McKinney-Vento dispute process have the right to enroll immediately in the school of choice pending resolution of the dispute.  Immediate enrollment includes full participation in all school activities.

What the McKinney-Vento Liaison Will Do

The McKinney-Vento Liaison will:

  • Provide a copy of this procedure to the parent or guardian or unaccompanied youth;
  • Assure the child or youth is immediately enrolled (granted the opportunity fully to participate in school activities) or granted continued enrollment in the school in which he/she is seeking enrollment pending resolution of the dispute;
  • Assist the parent or guardian in completing the Written Notification of McKinney-Vento to Appeal Request.
  • Inform the parent or guardian of the right to submit written or oral information to support a Written Notification of McKinney-Vento to Appeal Request.
  • Assist the WNSC enrolling officials in completing the Response form;
  • Gather other relevant information from both parties; and
  • Additionally, in the event of an inter-district dispute, the McKinney-Vento Liaison will represent WNSC in the resolution of the dispute by the Indiana Department of Education.

As the district’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison designee, notification should be made to Sarah Wilson in writing within 10 business days of receipt of the corporation decision letter if you want to appeal the district’s decision outlined above.

Below you will find an appeal form that you can use for this notification.  If we cannot reach a resolution at the district-level, the dispute will be moved to the state level for final resolution, facilitated by the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE) State Coordinator for the McKinney-Vento Act.  Ms. Charie Gibson, IDOE Homeless Education Specialist can be reached by phone at 317-233-3372 or 317-460-1340 or via email at: McKinneyVentopoc@doe.in.gov.

Below you will find a link to Indiana’s McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Process that provides additional details on the state’s McKinney-Vento dispute and appeals process, including key timelines.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions on this decision or the McKinney-Vento dispute or appeal process.

Sincerely,

Sarah Wilson
Curriculum Director / McKinney-Vento Liaison

West Noble School Corporation
5050 N US Highway 33
Ligonier, IN 46767
Office Phone: 260.894.3191 x5001

Form:

Written Notification of Appeal Request - English
Written Notification of Appeal Request - Spanish

Resource:

Department of Education Dispute Resolution