We are working with a family that struggles financially. Mom is dealing with some medical challenges and is needing brain surgery; she currently can’t be left alone. Since mom can’t be alone, our student and her mom are doubled up with grandma three to five days out of the week. The other days they are able to be at their home, because grandma can be there with them. Grandma lives out of our school district and has reached out for help with transportation. We know they are struggling financially, but we can’t decide if the living situation is one that would be eligible under McKinney-Vento.

Mar 16, 2023 | Q and A

Answer: You are right to think about the reasons for sharing housing, as the law is clear that it must be “due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.” 42 U.S.C. §11434a(2) It does seem that in this situation, the family is staying with grandma due...

We are working with a family who moved into a house on a five lane highway. Our state law says that school buses cannot stop on the highway to pick up the students. The closest possible stop is 0.3 miles away. While there is a sidewalk the whole way, the students still need to walk next to the highway and up a steep hill. Both the family and school staff have safety concerns. Our transportation department says there are no other options. The family does not currently have access to a car. What are our obligations for transportation in a situation that is within the local attendance area walk zone?

Feb 6, 2023 | Q and A

Answer: Because both school staff and the parent agree that the lack of transportation is a barrier to attendance due to safety, the district should provide an alternative, such as helping arrange a walk buddy or walking school bus, transportation from the bus stop to...

Is there a legal citation supporting transportation for students to exams, assessments, etc.? For example, we have a student is in our virtual learning model who needs to come to the school campus for an exam for ESL.

Mar 3, 2021 | Q and A

Answer: This falls under 42 USC §11432(g)(1)(I), which requires LEAs to “review and revise policies to remove barriers to the identification of homeless children and youths, and the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youths in schools in the...

What is the best way to handle situations where a parent has been untruthful about their living situation? A family told me in August they had lost their housing and were living doubled up with a sister outside of our district (20 miles away). We set up transportation. Recently, another staff member was talking with the mom about another issue, and the mom revealed that she actually had bought the new house and was not living with a sister. Should I revoke the bus even though we’ve been transporting for almost half of the year? Remove the McKinney-Vento flag and automatic free lunch status?

Mar 31, 2020 | Q and A

Answer: There are some steps you need to follow under the law. First, you have to put in writing why you believe the family did not meet the definition of homelessness, and information about how the parent can dispute the decision if she wishes. If anything was lost...

Can McKinney-Vento funds be used for educational field trips, such as the zoo and science museums? Food, transportation, and entrance fees would need to be included. We have a summer program and would like to take the students on a field trip.

Dec 2, 2019 | Q and A

Answer: The McKinney-Vento Act explicitly authorizes the use of subgrant funds for: “The provision of tutoring, supplemental instruction, and enriched educational services that are linked to the achievement of the same challenging State academic standards as the State...

A parent has incurred transportation costs getting her children to the school of origin during this past school year. She has asked to be reimbursed. The district is amenable to that; however, they are asking for receipts. The parent is unable to provide anything other than one receipt for a turnpike toll.

Oct 28, 2019 | Q and A

Answer: An important preliminary question for this answer is when the school knew the student was experiencing homelessness.  If the school knew earlier, and knew the parent was transporting the child to the school of origin, then reimbursement is the school’s...

I am trying to get my district to reimburse a student for gas he has used driving himself to/from his school of origin. An administrator says we can not issue cash/check because this is a student (not a parent), and there is no accountability. Are there any restrictions on school of origin transportation reimbursement for a youth, as opposed to a parent?

Aug 19, 2019 | Q and A

Answer: No. In fact, the McKinney-Vento Act is clear that transportation assistance is required for unaccompanied youth: “Each local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths, designated under paragraph (1)(J)(ii), shall ensure that–...

We have a 10th grade student staying in domestic violence shelter. The parent will not divulge the address of the shelter and is requesting her child be picked up and dropped off at a donut shop. How are these types of situations usually handled? Our statewide transportation system will not pick up students at storefronts, and also the LEA needs a contact address.

Apr 5, 2019 | Q and A

Answer: In situations like this, schools cannot require the address of the shelter.  Many or most domestic violence shelters do not allow residents to share the address.  That is a critical element of safety for all the families staying there. If the school were to...

I have a student who was identified under McKinney-Vento this school year, and now recently has been placed in foster care. Should we continue to serve the student under McKinney-Vento, or under the Title I foster care provisions? (If under McKinney-Vento, the districts split the cost of transportation; however, under foster care, our child welfare agency reimburses the cost of transportation.)

Apr 5, 2019 | Q and A

Answer: If a student is identified as experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act this school year, and later in the year is taken into child welfare custody and put in foster care, the district can continue serving the student under McKinney-Vento for the...

A family lost their electricity and then was evicted in November, and the children moved in with grandparents. Shortly after the move, a judge gave the grandparents legal custody. The students remain in the school of origin. 1) Do the students meet McKinney-Vento criteria? 2) Is the grandparents’ district responsible for sharing the cost of transportation to the school of origin?

Mar 6, 2019 | Q and A

Answer: Yes and yes. The students lost their housing due to an eviction (as well as substandard conditions–specifically, no electricity). They moved in with grandparents due to the loss of housing. The custody order does not change that. If the children are...

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