arizona-department-of-education

The Mckinney-Vento Act

Federal Guidelines

Your preschool and school-aged child(ren) may qualify for certain rights and protections under the Federal McKinney-Vento Act if your family lives in any of the following situations:

  • In a shelter
  • In a motel/hotel
  • In a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station
  • Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship.
  • In a campground due to the lack of an alternative accommodation

The AZ Department of Education (ADE) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs– public schools & charters) have designated points of contact to provide assistance and school stability.

Your eligible child(ren) have the right to:

  • Immediate school enrollment. A school must immediately enroll students even if they lack health, immunization or school records, proof of guardianship, or proof of residency.
  • Enroll in: the school he/she attended when permanently housed (school of origin); the school in which he/she was last enrolled (school of origin) ; any school that non-homeless students living in the same attendance area in which the homeless child or youth is actually living are eligible to attend.
  • Remain enrolled in his/her selected school for as long as he/ she remains homeless or, if the student becomes permanently housed, until the end of the academic year.
  • Priority in certain preschool programs.
  • Participate in a tutorial-instructional support program, school-related activities, and/or receive other support services
  • Obtain information regarding how to get fee waivers, and low-cost or free medical referrals.
  • Transportation services: A homeless student attending his/her school of origin has a right to transportation to go to and from the school of origin as long as (s)he is homeless or, if the student becomes permanently housed, until the end of the academic year.

If you believe your child(ren) may be eligible:

  1. Contact the school of attendance for your child(ren), speak to the front office staff and request McKinney-Vento services as well as the district liaison contact information. OR
  2. Visit the ADE website to find your Point of Contact for your LEA: http://www.azed.gov/homeless/liaisons/

If you are having trouble contacting your district liaison and receiving services, please contact:
Silvia Chavez, AZ State Coordinator – Homeless Education Program
Homeless@azed.gov – (602)542-496