Students Experiencing Homelessness McKinney-Vento Act

In transition? Unstable housing situation?

Let us connect you with the support to keep your education on track. Hardships happen, and the McKinney -Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, a federal law, ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. Our district-appointed liaisons are here to facilitate, locate and assist our families and students who find themselves needing support during these difficult moments to continue receiving the highest standards of education.

Do You...

Live in a shelter, motel or campground?
Live doubled-up with other people or couch-surfing?
Live in a car, park or abandoned building?

Get covered in three simple steps

TALK to your school counselor. Your school counselor will complete an intake form which will identify your student's needs and any community resources available to you
CONTACT Shannon Forslund, McKinney-Vento Liaison at forslsa@puyallup.k12.wa.us, 253-435-6607 for any additional resource assistance

Under the McKinney-Vento Act you have a right to an education without barriers, which means you can:

Receive a free public education
Enroll in school immediately, even if you lack documents normally required for enrollment
Attend classes while the school gathers your missing documents
Enroll in the school closest to you or the school you were last enrolled in (school of origin), even if you have been forced to relocate
Receive transportation to and from your school of origin
Receive all the same educational services other students receive, even if you can't pay
Participate in before and after school programs
Receive counseling
Receive free breakfast and lunch
Participate in special education, bilingual vocational and gifted programs as qualified
Receive school supplies
Receive extra academic support through Title I funding
Receive evaluation for any disabilities

Do you qualify for McKinney-Vento Support?

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who fall under this definition as:

Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason
Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodations (e.g. park benches, etc.)
Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations.