McKinney-Vento Act-Homeless Education Services
Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness
The Lewisburg Area School District recognizes its obligation to ensure that homeless students have access to the same educational programs and services provided to other district students. The district shall make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children within the district, encourage their enrollment, and eliminate existing barriers to their attendance and education, in compliance with federal and state law and regulations.
The district may waive policies, procedures and administrative regulations that create barriers for enrollment, attendance, transportation and success in school of homeless students, based on the recommendation of the Superintendent.
Every state is required to have a coordinator for the education of homeless children and youth, and every school district is required to have a liaison for homeless students. These individuals will assist you with the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act. To find out who your state coordinator is, visit the NCHE website at www.serve.org/nche.
For further information on the McKinney-Vento Act and resources for implementation, call the NCHE Help Line at 800-308-2145 or e-mail [email protected].
Local contact information
District Homeless Liaison - Michael Jones
1951 Washington Avenue
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Telephone: 570-522-3202
Email: [email protected]
Who is Homeless?
To establish laws that will protect the educational rights of homeless children, a clear definition had to be established. Both that definition and the laws governing the education of homeless youth are provided here.
Who Is Homeless? - Federal Guidelines
- According to the Federal Guideline on the Definition of Homelessness, the following applies:
- Children in foster care should not be considered homeless.
- Children who have been placed by the state in transitional or emergency shelters should be considered homeless if the placement is of a transitional nature.
- Children who are runaways should be considered homeless.
- Children who are "throwaway children" should be considered homeless.
- All abandoned children are homeless until a fixed, regular, and adequate residence is obtained.
- Some children who live with friends or relatives should be considered homeless, depending on their reasons for living with the friends or relatives, and the permanence of the living arrangements.
- Children who are living in families that are doubled-up or tripled-up with other families can be considered homeless, depending on the specific circumstances.
- The children of migrant workers may be homeless if they meet the McKinney definition; however, many children who qualify for migrant services reside in a fixed, regular, and adequate residence and should not be considered homeless.
For more information contact the National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE at http://www.serve.org/nche.
Homelessness and the Law
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110) was enacted to make sure homeless youth have access to appropriate education while removing barriers that homeless children face. The Act defines the term "homeless children and youths" as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Its goal is to minimize interruptions to the education of homeless youth. The Lewisburg Area School District is committed to working collaboratively with families and local agencies to support homeless youth in our school community.
For more information, contact the National Law Center at www.nlchp.org.
Homelessness Resources