July/August 2008Vol. 9, No. 6Child Welfare and the McKinney-Vento Act
The McKinney-Vento Act was passed to ensure educational rights and protections for homeless children and youth, including those awaiting foster care placement. The act addresses such issues as:
- Barriers to enrolling in school, including residency and documentation
- Transportation to and from the school of origin
- Immediate school enrollment
- Eligibility for title I education services
- Changes in "best interest" determination
- Homeless education liaisons in all school districts
The rights of children in foster care may differ, depending on a State or jurisdiction's interpretations of eligibility. However, every school district has a local education agency liaison for homeless education who can discuss eligibility requirements.
Child welfare professionals may want to familiarize themselves with the following resources on the McKinney-Vento Act:
- National Center for Homeless Education webpage
www.serve.org/nche/m-v.php - What Child Welfare Professionals Need to Know About Awaiting Foster Care Placement and the McKinney-Vento Act (Legal Center for Foster Care and Education)
http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/aba_awaitfcp.pdf (PDF - 166 KB) - Educating Homeless Children and Youth: The Guide to Their Rights (National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty)
www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/Basic%20McKinney%20Booklet%20(2007)1.pdf (PDF - 380 KB) - "Making McKinney-Vento Work for You" (May 2008 issue of The Exchange from the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth)
http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/book/export/html/512