Families in Transition

MCKINNEY-VENTO ASSISTANCE ACT

Provides certain rights and protection for families experiencing transitional living situations.

According to the McKinney-Vento, anyone who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate night-time residence has specific educational rights.

A student is considered part of the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act if he or she is presently:

“Doubled up” living with friends or family due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
Living in a shelter
Living in a motel, hotel, or campground due to lack of adequate housing
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings
An “unaccompanied youth” living without a parent/guardian
A child of a migrant worker
In other situations that are not fixed, regular, or adequate for nighttime residence

Know your educational rights! Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, children and youth have the right to:

Enroll in school immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment, such as a birth certificate, proof of residence, previous school records, or immunization/medical records
Enroll, attend classes, and participate fully in all school activities while the school gathers records
Attend either the local school or the “school of origin”, if this is in their best interest; the “school of origin” is the school the child attended when he/she was permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled
Receive transportation support to and from the “school of origin” if in the best interest of the child(ren)
Free lunches for the school year
Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children served in these programs

For more information about your child(ren)’s rights under the

McKinney-Vento Assistant Act, please contact:

Kris Widmann,

School Counselor/Homeless Liaison

Grantham Village School

75 Learning Drive, Grantham, NH 03753

603-863-1681

Resources

Drug Rehab, Homeless and Substance Abuse Resource