Supporting Students Who are Homeless

Christina School District follows the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento) for students who are homeless or in foster care. McKinney-Vento guarantees students the right to a free, appropriate public education by helping to minimize educational disruptions experienced by homelessness or foster care. 

Under McKinney-Vento, students can remain enrolled in the school they were attending prior to homelessness or foster care even if they no longer reside in its feeder pattern. Additionally, McKinney-Vento guarantees students transportation to and from school, and enables students to enroll in a public school when they do not have the required documents and immunizations to register.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines a child who is homeless as one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.  This includes children and youth:

• Staying with family or friends due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (example: evicted, loss of job, etc.)
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds
• Living in a shelter or emergency housing
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or bus or train stations
• Abandoned in hospitals
• Who migrate with their family during the year and meet any of the descriptions above

To learn if your family is eligible for McKinney-Vento services, please contact our District Homeless Liaisons: