If your family lives in any of the following situations:

• Sharing housing due to economic hardship, loss of housing, etc.

• Living in a motel, hotel, or campground

• Living in an emergency shelter (domestic violence, runaway, etc.)

• Living in a car, park, abandoned building, public building, or substandard housing (lack of running water, heat, electricity)

• Seeking enrollment without an accompanying legal guardian/parent/caregiver (not in foster care)

Then, your preschool-aged and school-aged children have certain rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless

Education Assistance Act. 

If You Are Homeless Your Children Have The Right To:

• Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there. They must be given access to the same public education, including preschool education, provided to other children.

• Continue in the school they attended before you became homeless or the school they last attended, if that is your choice and is feasible. If a school sends your child to a school other than the one you request, the school must provide you with a written explanation and offer you the right to appeal the decision.

• Receive transportation to the school they attended before your family became homeless or the school they last attended, if you or a guardian request such transportation.

• Attend a school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless. Children cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.

• Enroll in school without giving a permanent address. Schools cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay school enrollment.

• Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.

• Enroll and attend classes in the school of your choice even while the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrolling your children.

• Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children served in these programs.