• McKinney-Vento Homeless Program

    • Homeless children and youth often have problems enrolling and participating in school as a result of their living situation. A federal act was put in place to ensure the educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Congress passed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in 1987; Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; reauthorized by Title X, Part C of ESSA. 

      The Office of Homeless and Foster Care’s goal is to identify and support homeless youth so each student can successfully participate in the learning environment. Each student identified as McKinney-Vento eligible will have access to resources available within the Detroit Public Schools Community District. These resources are put in place and are essential for students to excel academically and socially. All students will have the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to thrive in our city, our nation, our world.  

      In compliance with federal law (McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 ‐Pub. L. 100‐77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, 42 U.S.C. § 11301 et seq.), it is the policy of  Detroit Public Schools Community District to provide free and appropriate education for all children.  Homeless children and youth must be given full opportunity to meet state and local academic achievement standards without barriers. 

      Detroit Public Schools Community District will ensure homeless children and youth are free from discrimination, segregation, and harassment because of their homeless status. 

      The major tenets of the McKinney-Vento Act are: 

      • Immediate school access (remove of barriers to enrollment) 

      • School stability 

      • Support for academic success 

      • Child-centered, best interest decision making 

      • Critical role of the local homeless education liaison 

      DEFINITION OF THE TERM “HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH”

      The term “homeless children and youth” is defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. The law also provides several examples of situations that meet the definition. The examples include children and youth: 

      • Sharing housing of others, with or without their parents, due to loss of housing (doubled up);

      • Living in motel, hotel, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate housing; 

      • Living in emergency or transitional shelters; 

      • Living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; 

      • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar places; 

      • Unaccompanied youth includes youth, not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian; 

      • Living in a situation described in the above circumstances and who are migratory. 

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Information about the Office of Homeless and Foster Care
Information about the Office of Homeless and Foster Care
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