Title IX

Title IX

The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth

The McKinney-Vento program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.  Under this program, State educational agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. States and districts are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies, that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act defines a homeless individual as one who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Shelby County Schools’ McKinney Grant funds are used to provide services to homeless children and youth to facilitate enrollment, retention, and educational success.

If your family lives in any of the following situations, you may be considered homeless:

• In a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground
• On the street
• In an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations, or
• Doubled up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing.