Who is homeless?
As defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the term homeless children and youth is defined as an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence including children and youth who:
- are sharing housing due to loss of permanent housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
- are living in motels, hotels, substandard trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative and adequate housing
- are living in an emergency or transitional shelter
- have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
- are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
- are migratory children meeting the descriptions listed above
- are ‘doubling up’ with relatives or friends
- are unaccompanied youth (21 years old or younger and are not in physical custody of a parent or guardian)
What rights do these youth have?
If found to be eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, families with school-aged children have the right to:
- attend school
- enroll immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment
- stay in the school they attended before becoming homeless (school of origin), if the parent/guardian so chooses
- participate fully in school programs, activities, and receive school services according to the students’ needs
Programs
If a student qualifies for homeless services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, contact our school’s liaison and Title I Coordinator, Tamara Murphy. Students have the right to participate fully in all school activities; these programs may include sports, music, clubs, organizations, etc.
Transfer of Records
If a student qualifies for homeless services under McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, contact our school’s liaison and Title I Coordinator, Tamara Murphy, to assist with transferring records.
Additional Supplies
If a student qualifies for homeless services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, contact our school’s liaison and Title I Coordinator, Tamara Murphy, to assist with obtaining necessary school supplies for educational purposes.
For any questions regarding Excel Academy's homeless program, please contact Tamara Murphy - Title I Coordinator - Homeless/Foster Liaison.