The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that homeless children receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
This education is equal to what all other children in the state receive.
The program works to remove barriers to enrollment and academic success for these students. Homeless youth can enroll immediately. Families do not need to prove residency for school enrollment. Therefore, Agora Cyber Charter School enrolls these students without delay.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about the McKinney-Vento Act email Alina Kitchell at akitchell@agora.org.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- The McKinney-Vento Act Guide
- Temporary Residency Guide For Parents
- Education for Homeless Children and Youth Policy – PDF
- Education for Homeless Children and Youth Policy
- Privacy and Homelessness—FERPA 2016
- FAQs on Education Rights of Children and Youth in Homeless Situations—McKinney Vento FAQs
- Non-Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care—ESSA Q & A
- Grievance Procedures—Dispute Resolution Policy
- Shelter Directory
AGORA’S RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify homeless children and youth with help from school staff. Coordinate activities with other agencies to support them.
- Inform parents or guardians about their children’s educational rights. Include opportunities such as Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Explain early intervention services under Part C of the IDEA. Also, describe other preschool programs run by the local education agency. Encourage parents to actively participate in their children’s education.
- Mediate enrollment disputes in accordance with the Enrollment Dispute section.
- Inform the parent or guardian of a homeless or unaccompanied youth about all transportation options. If transportation costs are an issue, provide support for McKinney-Vento students.
- Enroll unaccompanied youth in school immediately, even if disputes about enrollment or placement arise.
- Help children and youth without immunization or medical records get the required vaccines and documentation.
- Learn the guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for educating homeless students. Be ready to explain the Basic Education Circular (BEC) on homeless education to school staff.
- Discover the top community resources that help families with shelter, counseling, food, and transportation.
- Share information about homeless students. Organize workshops and presentations for school staff, including office personnel.
- Become familiar with the various program materials that are available from PDE.
- Ensure homeless youth with disabilities, or who may have them, have a parent or surrogate for special education decisions. If a youth is unaccompanied and lacks an authorized decision-maker, the school will step in. The school can work with temporary surrogate parents, including staff from emergency or transitional shelters. Independent living programs and street outreach staff can also serve as temporary surrogates. State, local, or child welfare agency staff involved in the youth’s care may help too. This rule applies only to unaccompanied homeless youth.
- Work closely with shelters and social service agencies to identify homeless preschool-aged children. Also, when enrolling homeless children in school, ask if the family has preschool-aged children.
- Identify unaccompanied homeless youth by providing targeted outreach in areas where out-of-school students gather. Respect their privacy and dignity throughout the process.
- Ensure unaccompanied youth can meet the same challenging state academic standards as other children. Additionally, provide support to help them succeed.
