Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized by Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. This brief explains the key provisions in the Act concerning the roles and responsibilities of the local homeless education liaison and offers strategies for implementing the Act in a school district.

Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. ʹʹ11431-11435; hereafter referred to as "the McKinney-Vento Act"), reauthorized in 2001 by Title X, Part C of the No Child Left Behind Act, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Because of their often tumultuous living situations, school may be their only opportunity to benefit from a stable environment, consistent adult attention, positive peer relations, academic support, and regular meals. Enrolling homeless students in school immediately and presenting them with opportunities to participate fully in school provides them with needed educational stability and continuity. This brief explains the key provisions in the McKinney-Vento Act concerning school enrollment, including sections on enrollment barriers, immediate enrollment, enrollment requirements, and full participation in school. Each section also offers strategies for State Coordinators, local homeless education liaisons (hereafter referred to as "local liaisons"), and school personnel to ensure that the key provisions are successfully implemented so that students experiencing homelessness are immediately enrolled in school and provided or referred to appropriate services.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines "homeless children and youths" as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." However, because the circumstances of homelessness vary with each family's or unaccompanied youth's situation, determining the extent to which the family or youth fits the definition must occur on a case-by-case basis. Enrollment staff and/or the local homeless education liaison must gather and analyze information from the family or youth and make an appropriate determination of eligibility. Expeditious determination of eligibility and immediate school enrollment are critical to the child's educational continuity. This tool is designed to assist school and school district staff in applying the definition to individual children and youth to determine eligibility for rights and services under the McKinney-Vento Act. (Contains 15 footnotes.).

Wrightslaw Special Education Legal Developments and Cases 2019 is designed to make it easier for you to stay up-to-date on new cases and developments in special education law.Learn about current and emerging issues in special education law, including:* All decisions in IDEA and Section 504 ADA cases by U.S. Courts of Appeals in 2019* How Courts of Appeals are interpreting the two 2017 decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court* Cases about discrimination in a daycare center, private schools, higher education, discrimination by licensing boards in national testing, damages, higher standards for IEPs and "least restrictive environment"* Tutorial about how to find relevant state and federal cases using your unique search terms