About the McKinney-Vento Program: The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act guarantees school enrollment for anyone who, due to a lack of permanent housings, lives in inadequate or temporary settings, such as:

• Emergency Shelters
• Transitional Housing
• Motels, Hotels, Campgrounds, Etc.
• Cars, Parks, Public Places, Bus/Train Stations, Abandoned Buildings
• Relative or friends due to loss of housing or economic hardship

Your child can enroll in school even if you have uncertain, temporary housing or no permanent physical address.

Educational Rights for Students Lacking Fixed, Regular & Adequate Housing:

• You do not need a permanent address to enroll your child in school.
• Your child cannot be denied school enrollment when school records or other enrollment documentation are not immediately available.
• Your child may be able to remain in Educational Rights for Students Lacking Fixed, Regular & Adequate Housing
• You do not need a permanent address to enroll your child in school.
• Your child cannot be denied school enrollment when school records or other enrollment documentation are not immediately available.
• Your child may be able to remain in the same school (school of origin) even if you move.
• Your child has the right to transportation services to and from the school of origin.
• Your child has the right to participate in extracurricular activities and all federal, state, or local programs for which they are eligible.
• Unaccompanied youth lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing have these same rights.

Tips For Families Who Move Often:

• Keep a copy of birth certificates and school records accessible.
• Safeguard all health and immunization records.
• Have a reliable person keep a second copy of the child’s birth certificate, school records, and health information.
• Enroll children in school as soon as possible.

What You Can Do Before Moving:

• Tell your child’s teacher and principal that your child is moving and give them the new address.
• Let school officials know if you want your child to stay in their school of origin while you are getting your family stabilized.
• Ask for a copy of your child’s school records, including immunizations.

The McKinney-Vento Program is run through the Virginia Department of Education. More information can be found here.