The McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 is a United States federal law that provides federal money to serve homeless populations.

South Carolina Department of Education Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title IX, Part A McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

McKinney-Vento Act

The McKinney-Vento Act protects the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The law gives children and youth in homeless situations the right to:

• Stay in their school until the end of the year, even if the family moves out of zone
• Have immediate access to school enrollment without proof of residency, immunizations, school records or other documents
• Get bus transportation to school
• Get help finding preschool options and applying for ABC Vouchers
• Get referrals for screenings for all the school services they need
• Have disagreements with schools settled quickly and go to school while the disagreements are settled

Definition of Homelessness

• Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
• Children living in shelters, including domestic violence shelters
• Children living in hotels/motels
• Children living on the streets or in cars, abandoned buildings, campgrounds, etc.
• Children living in substandard conditions
• Not fit for human habitation (i.e. no electricity, no heat, no running water, no windows/doors, holes in the roof/floor, no way to cook/store food).
• Abandoned children and youth living with no legal guardian
• Two or more families living together in crowded or undesirable living conditions, (doubling up) because they have no place of their own to live due to eviction, loss of income, house fire, domestic violence, etc.

Who is NOT considered homeless under the McKinney Vento Act*

• Children living with grandparents or other family members under their guardianship. (Fixed, Regular and Adequate)
• Families choosing to live together for finance sharing. 
• Students voluntarily living with a friend to graduate high school.
• Students living with a family for sport seasons.

 * Per National Center for Homeless Education

What We Can Do

• Identify homeless children and youth
• Assist homeless students with school enrollment and school supplies
• Provide school clothing vouchers and uniforms
• Help homeless students access educational services and programs
• Provide referrals to shelters and community networking for homeless families
• Assist with transportation services