McKinney-Vento Program

The McKinney-Vento Act strengthens education support for students who find themselves and their families facing housing hardship (42 U.S.C. 11431).

Every school district in Oregon has at least one designated McKinney-Vento Liaison who provides direct assistance to families and unaccompanied youth, helping with access to education, which enables success in school. 

For additional information, please contact HSD's McKinney-Vento team or visit the Oregon Department of Education's website. 
 

Possible reasons for qualifying:

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that students who face housing instability and housing hardships have access to a free, appropriate and public education, despite the lack of a fixed living environment or a supervising parent or guardian. The term "housing instability" includes children and families living in:

• Doubled-up housing - living temporarily with family or friends due to economic hardship or a similar reason
• Couch surfing
• Runaway youth shelters
• Hotels or motels
• Shelters or transitional housing, including domestic violence shelters and clean and sober living programs
• Cars, abandoned buildings, parks, on the street
• Campgrounds or inadequate trailer homes
• Substandard housing - spaces which may have mold, rodents, or lack access to heating, cooling, electricity, running water. 
• Youth living on their own without a parent or legal guardian (known as unaccompanied youth)

If you currently find yourself in any of the situations described above, you or your children are entitled to assistance.

Students experiencing housing instability have the right to:

• Get help enrolling and succeeding in school -including preschool- from the district's McKinney-Vento Liaison or from a designated school building contact.
• Stay in the school they were attending before facing housing instability (called "school of origin), even if they move out of the district, or they may choose to enroll in their neighborhood school.
• Receive transportation to their school of origin (when living outside the school walk zone) provided or arranged by the school district.
• Access preschool services
• Access the free school meals program
•  Access to all educational services they are entitled to per state and federal regulations.

When you disagree with an Eligibility outcome:

• HSD Dispute Resolution Process
• ODE Dispute Resolution Protocols
• Dispute Resolution Form : This form is to be completed when a disagreement arises between the school/district and a parent/guardian/unaccompanied youth over McKinney-Vento eligibility, school selection, or school enrollment.