What is the McKinney‑Vento Act?

The McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) is a federal law that provides important educational rights and services to PreK-12 children and youth experiencing homelessness. At its core, the law requires state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to remove barriers to school enrollment and attendance, provide transportation and school stability when needed, ensure full participation in academic and extracurricular programs, and designate liaisons to support students experiencing homelessness.

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

For more background on how McKinney-Vento links with other federal programs, click here.

The Act guarantees educational rights and services for students experiencing homelessness, including immediate enrollment, access to academic and extracurricular programs, transportation and school stability protections, and liaison supports.

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

“Homeless children and youth” are those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence — including children sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing or economic hardship; living in motels, trailer parks, campgrounds, shelters, or transitional housing; or sleeping in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, or other similar places. (42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)). The law also defines “unaccompanied youth” as those not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. (42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6)). For more, visit this section above.

For guiding questions liaisons can use to determine eligibility, explore our resource Determining McKinney-Vento Eligibility: Guiding Questions for Liaisons.

Eligibility hinges on whether the child or youth lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as described in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2). This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students.  

For guiding questions liaisons can use to determine eligibility, explore our resource Determining McKinney-Vento Eligibility: Guiding Questions for Liaisons.

Visit this page for more Q&As from the field on the topic of McKinney-Vento eligibility. 

School of origin “means the school that a child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled, including a preschool.” 42 USC 11432(g)(3)(I)(i). Under 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(A), students experiencing homelessness can remain in their “school of origin:”

• For the duration of homelessness
• And until the end of an academic year in which they obtain permanent housing, if it is in their best interest

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

These interview checklists are designed to facilitate open conversations about the school that is in a student’s best interest to attend, emphasizing the importance of parents and youth being fully informed and carefully considering the benefits of school stability prior to changing schools.

Visit this page for more FAQs from the field on the topic of school of origin. 

Students experiencing homelessness may remain in their school of origin for the duration of homelessness and until the end of the academic year in which they obtain permanent housing, if remaining is in their best interest. (42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(A)).

LEAs must prioritize school stability when making best interest determinations. LEAs must make determinations that presume that staying in the school of origin is in the best interest of the child or youth; consider specific student-centered factors; prioritize the wishes of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth; and include a written explanation and right to appeal if the LEA determines that school stability is not in the best interest of the child or youth. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(B).

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students.

Visit this page for more Q&As from the field on the topic of school of origin. 

Rights under McKinney-Vento include immediate enrollment (even without documentation), the right to attend the school of origin when appropriate, transportation to the school of origin, access to academic and extracurricular activities, and referral to health and other services. 

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

Use these downloadable flyers, infographics, and posters to raise awareness, support identification, and connect students and families experiencing homelessness to their educational rights.

Yes. The Act specifically covers unaccompanied youth — defined as homeless children and youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian — and requires that liaisons ensure unaccompanied youth are informed of their rights and receive verification for college financial aid as applicable. (42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6); §11432(g)(6)(A)(x)(III)). 

Millions of youth experience homelessness on their own each year, facing serious risks without the support of a parent or guardian. This page explains who these young people are, why they may be on their own, what they need—and how schools and communities can support them.

Visit this page for more Q&As from the field on the topic of Unaccompanied Youth. 

LEAs must designate a liaison, ensure identification and enrollment of homeless students, remove barriers to enrollment and participation (including fees and required documents), provide transportation to school of origin when requested and appropriate, and post public notice of rights in locations accessible to parents and youth. 

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students.

Lack of documentation must not delay enrollment: homeless students must be enrolled immediately even if they lack proof of residency, birth certificates, immunizations, or other records. “Enrollment” is defined as attending classes and participating fully in school activities. 42 U.S.C. §11434A(1).

SEAs and LEAs must develop, review, and revise policies to remove barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance and retention of homeless students in school, including barriers due to fees, fines, and absences. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(1)(I). This checklist resource is intended to assist local educational agencies in evaluating their own McKinney-Vento policies.

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

Visit this page for more Q&As from the field on the topic of McKinney-Vento enrollment & participation. 

Yes. When a state law conflicts with the McKinney-Vento Act, schools must follow federal law. For example, McKinney-Vento requires immediate enrollment of students experiencing homelessness even if they do not have documents normally required for enrollment, such as proof of residency or other records.

The McKinney-Vento Act specifically outlines protections for preschool children and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. It requires that liaisons and SEAs must ensure access to Head Start, preschool programs, and early intervention services. It also requires that liaisons assist unaccompanied youth with enrollment, school selection, and financial aid.

For more information on the rights of young children experiencing homelessness to preschool or Head Start under the McKinney-Vento Act, scroll up to this section.

The Act defines “unaccompanied youth” as homeless children and youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian — and requires that liaisons ensure unaccompanied youth are informed of their rights and receive verification for college financial aid as applicable. (42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6); §11432(g)(6)(A)(x)(III)). 

Millions of youth experience homelessness on their own each year, facing serious risks without the support of a parent or guardian. This page explains who these young people are, why they may be on their own, what they need—and how schools and communities can support them.

Visit this page for more Q&As from the field on the topic of Unaccompanied Youth.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, local educational agencies (LEAs) must develop procedures to identify and remove barriers to identification, enrollment, and retention. Homeless liaisons have specific identification duties including outreach and dissemination of public notice. For practical identification questions and an eligibility decision framework, see Determining McKinney-Vento Eligibility: Guiding Questions for Liaisons.

Visit this page for more Q&As from the field on the topic of McKinney-Vento identification

The correct statutory name is the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) is a federal law that provides important educational rights and services to PreK-12 children and youth experiencing homelessness. At its core, the law requires state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to remove barriers to school enrollment and attendance, provide transportation and school stability when needed, ensure full participation in academic and extracurricular programs, and designate liaisons to support students experiencing homelessness.

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

For more background on how McKinney-Vento links with federal programs, click here.

Every local educational agency (LEA) must designate a McKinney-Vento liaison (42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)) to ensure students experiencing homelessness are identified and supported. Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that homeless children and youth are identified and enrolled in school, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.
  42 U.S.C. §§11432(g)(6)(A)(i)-(ii).
• Participating in professional development and other technical assistance offered by the state. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(1)(J)(iv).
• Ensuring school personnel receive professional development and other support.
  42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(6)(A)(ix).
• Ensuring that unaccompanied homeless youth are informed, and receive verification, of their status as independent students for college financial aid.
  42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(6)(A)(x)(III).
• Ensuring that homeless children, youth, and families receive referrals to health, dental, mental health, housing, substance abuse, and other appropriate services.
  42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(6)(A)(iv).
• Disseminating public notice of McKinney-Vento rights in locations frequented by parents and youth, in a manner and form understandable to them. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(6)(A)(iii).

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

Find the contact information for local education liaisons, state coordinators, the Head Start State Collaboration Office, and homeless higher education liaisons in our Homeless Education Directory. 

The homeless liaison is a critical position, but it can be daunting – especially for those who are new to the role. This resource hub is designed to help new liaisons carry out their responsibilities and find inspiration and support.

Yes—transportation to the school of origin must be provided when requested, including through the end of the academic year when a student obtains permanent housing. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(J)(iii). 

As a reminder, children and youth experiencing homelessness can remain in their school of origin, if that is in their best interest. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(A).

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

Visit this page for more Q&As from the field on the topic of McKinney-Vento and transportation. 

And for more on meeting the transportation needs of students experiencing homelessness, visit this resource page. There, you can find considerations, strategies, and examples for school district liaisons, transportation coordinators, and others working to support students experiencing homelessness.

McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) funds can be used for services including transportation, support for preschool access, referrals to health and mental health services, tutoring, and assistance with school supplies and other needs. 

The sixteen uses permitted by the McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. 11433(d)) include:

• Supplemental educational services, such as tutoring and other academic enrichment programs
• Expedited evaluations for various educational services 
• Professional development activities for educators and pupil services personnel working with homeless students
• Health referral services
• Defraying the excess cost of transportation in order to enable students to attend the school of origin
• Early childhood education programs for preschool-aged homeless children
• Services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth in public school programs
• Before- and after-school, mentoring, and summer programs with educational activities;
• Payment of fees and costs associated with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records of homeless children and youth
• Education and training for parents of homeless children and youth about rights and resources
• Development of coordination between schools and agencies providing services
• Provision of pupil services (including violence prevention counseling) and referrals for such services
• Activities to address needs that may arise from domestic violence
• Adaptation of space and purchase of supplies for non-school facilities to provide services listed above
• Provision of school supplies, including those to be distributed at shelters or other appropriate locations
• Other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless students to attend school.

Reserved Title I funds may be used for services not ordinarily provided by Title I, such as local liaisons and transportation. (20 U.S.C. § 6313(c)(3)(A) & (C)(ii)). This guide explains how schools, districts and advocates can make the most of Title I, Part A funds to meet legal requirements, remove barriers, and improve outcomes for students experiencing homelessness.

Yes. Students do not need to be U.S. citizens or have a particular immigration status to qualify under the McKinney-Vento Act. If an undocumented student is experiencing homelessness, that student is eligible for the Act’s protections and services, including enrollment in public school.

Liaisons must ensure homeless families and children can access:

• Head Start and Early Head Start
• LEA-administered pre-school programs
• And early intervention services under IDEA Part C, if eligible. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(C).

For many young children experiencing homelessness, remaining in the school of origin provides their only access to preschool – when children move into a new community due to homelessness, enrolling in a local preschool usually is impossible, either because there are no preschool programs available, or those that are available already are full.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) amended the McKinney-Vento Act to include preschools specifically within the definition of “school of origin.” 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(I). 

As a result, children experiencing homelessness can remain in the preschool they attended when permanently housed, or the preschool in which they were last enrolled, if that is in their best interest. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(A).

This right to remain in the same preschool includes the right to receive transportation to preschool (even if preschool transportation is not typically provided) 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(1)(J)(iii), and continues for as long as the child is homeless, and until the end of the academic year in which the child moves into permanent housing. 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(B).

Learn more about the rights of homeless children under ESSA for preschool continuity, including transportation and enrollment in the school of origin with this resource. There, you can also download a flowchart to understand preschool eligibility and support for young children experiencing homelessness.

This quick reference summarizes the Act’s key provisions, includes relevant legal citations, and provides resources to help educators, families and youth, and liaisons better support students. 

The page also includes downloadable PDFs, a short explainer video, and a school year calendar. 

This calendar serves as a starting point for homeless liaisons to organize the implementation of requirements, outreach, resources, and other activities to support students experiencing homelessness, offering strategies and best practices on implementing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act throughout the school year. 

The page also links to other SchoolHouse Connection resources for liaisons, eligibility guidance, LEA policy checklists, counseling guidance, and federal program connections. 

Additional Resources include:

• McKinney-Vento 2025-2026 Calendar of Events
• Awareness and Training Resources
• Identifying Students Experiencing Homelessness
• The McKinney-Vento “Elevator Pitch”: A Guide to Engaging School Staff and Community Partners
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Youth Homelessness
• Editable “Know Your Rights” flyers
• Interview Checklists for Supporting School Selection
• Preschool under the McKinney-Vento Act
• Meeting the Transportation Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness
• LEA McKinney-Vento Homelessness Policy Checklist
• Full Participation in Extracurricular Activities
• Referring Young Children to Early Childhood Development Programs: Checklist for Homeless Liaisons
• Awarding and Accepting Partial Credit for Students Experiencing Homelessness
• Quick Guide for Counseling Staff
• Child and Youth Homelessness in the United States: Data Profiles