McKinney-Vento Homeless Children & Youth Program
McKinney-Vento Homeless Children & Youth Program works with the schools and community agencies to make sure students and families who are experiencing housing difficulties have resources available to them.
McKinney-Vento Act (section 725) defines "homeless children and youth" (school age or younger) as children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who:
- Share the housing of another person/family due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Living in hotels, motels, camp grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations
- Living in emergency or transitional shelters
- Abandoned in hospitals
- Awaiting foster care placement
In determining whether or not a child or youth is homeless, consider the relative permanence of the living arrangements. Determination of homelessness should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Rights of the homeless child or youth:
- Homeless child or youth have the right to remain at their school of origin
- Homeless child or youth have the right to transportation
- Access to educational programs and educational resources (expedited assessments, tutoring, etc)
- Waiver of fees/costs associated with required aspects of the educational setting (registration fees, lunch fees, course fees)
Visit the Illinois State Board of Education's Homeless page.
- McKinney-Vento Training for Enrolling Staff 2020 Illinois
- McKinney-Vento (Homeless) Teacher & School Staff Training
If you have any questions about the McKinney-Vento Homeless Children & Youth Program, please contact Brandy Howard at (815) 599-1408 ext. 134.
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