McKinney-Vento Program for Students Experiencing Homelessness
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that provides educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Waller ISD is committed to identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness and removing barriers that could prevent them from enrolling, attending, participating in, or succeeding in school.
Under the McKinney-Vento Act, children and youth are considered homeless when they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This may include children and youth who are:
- Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds because they lack adequate alternative housing
- Living in emergency or transitional shelters
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or other places not ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations
- Living in substandard housing or
- Migratory children who are living in circumstances described above.
Eligibility is determined based on each student's individual living situation.
Educational Rights
Students who qualify for McKinney-Vento services have important educational rights and protections. These may include the right to:
- Enroll in school immediately, even when normally required enrollment documents are not immediately available
- Attend the school of origin when it is determined to be in the student's best interest, or enroll in the local school where the student is currently living
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin when required under McKinney-Vento
- Participate fully in school and have barriers to enrollment, attendance, and participation removed
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students
- Receive referrals to appropriate school and community resources and services and
- Receive assistance through the McKinney-Vento dispute resolution process if there is a disagreement regarding eligibility, school selection, or enrollment.
Federal guidance emphasizes immediate enrollment and school stability and requires districts to remove barriers that prevent students experiencing homelessness from accessing academic and extracurricular opportunities. Students generally may remain in their school of origin for the duration of homelessness and through the end of the academic year in which they obtain permanent housing when remaining there is in their best interest.
Unaccompanied Youth
An unaccompanied youth is a student experiencing homelessness who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Waller ISD's At-Risk & Highly Mobile Liaison assists unaccompanied youth with enrollment, school selection, access to services, and other educational needs. Eligible unaccompanied youth also receive assistance with documentation of their status for purposes of applying for federal student aid.
Need Assistance?
If you believe your child or a student you know may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Act, or if your family's housing situation has changed, please contact your campus registrar or the Waller ISD's At-Risk & Highly Mobile Liaison.
Dr. Dean Guerra
At-Risk & Highly Mobile Liaison
Email: dguerra@wallerisd.net
Phone: (936) 372-0161
The At-Risk & Highly Mobile Liaison works with students, families, campuses, and community partners to identify eligible students, remove educational barriers, connect families with available resources, and help ensure that students experiencing homelessness have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.
