McKinney-Vento Act Information

The McKinney-Vento Act was established to support homeless children and youth by ensuring their enrollment, attendance, and success in school. This legislation guarantees that homeless youth receive the same educational services as all students to meet challenging academic standards. The Act also ensures that homeless youth can attend either their neighborhood school or the school in the area where they currently reside. Under the McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless, individuals are considered homeless if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence [42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)].

Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy of Arizona's Commitment
Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy of Arizona is dedicated to providing an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every homeless student has access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as non-homeless students. This commitment applies to all services, programs, and activities offered by the school.

Who is Considered Homeless?

A student may be eligible for services as a "Homeless Child or Youth" under the McKinney- Vento Act if they are currently living in one of the following situations:

• Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
• Staying in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters or being abandoned in hospitals.
• Residing in a public or private place not designed 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 settings.
• Being a migratory child who qualifies as homeless due to living in one of the situations described above.

Rights of Homeless Students

To remove educational barriers for homeless children and youth, the McKinney-Vento Act guarantees the following rights:

• Immediate Enrollment: Homeless students must be enrolled in school immediately, even if they lack documentation such as immunization records [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(C)].
• School Selection and Continued Enrollment: Eligible students can choose to attend either:
  • Their School of Origin (the school they attended before becoming homeless or the last school they were enrolled in), OR
  • Their School of Residency (the school in the attendance area where they currently reside).
  Students may remain in their selected school for the entire period of homelessness and through the end of the academic year once permanently housed [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(A), (B), (I)(i)].
• Transportation Services: Students attending their School of Origin are entitled to transportation to and from school [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(J)(iii)].
• Participation in Programs: Homeless students have the right to access services comparable to those offered to other students in the school [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(4) & (6)(iii)].
• Unaccompanied Youth Enrollment: Homeless students without a parent or guardian must be enrolled immediately, even without proof of guardianship [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(H)(iv)].
• Access to Extracurricular Activities: Schools must remove barriers preventing homeless students from participating in academic and extracurricular activities, provided they meet eligibility criteria [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(F)(iii)].
• Dispute Resolution: If there is a disagreement between a homeless family and school officials regarding enrollment, transportation, or other services, a formal complaint can be filed with Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy of Arizona [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(E)].
• Local Homeless Liaison: Every school district or local education agency (LEA) must appoint a Homeless Liaison to ensure that homeless children and youth are properly enrolled and have equal opportunities to succeed [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii), (6)(A)].

Applying for the Program

To apply for the McKinney-Vento Program, please complete the Student Residency Questionnaire and/or the Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit. The school registrar will facilitate immediate enrollment, coordinate with staff to address academic and non-academic needs, and ensure that no barriers prevent the student from receiving an education.

If your housing situation changes, please notify the school homeless education liaison for assistance. Reapplication is required each school year to maintain eligibility for the program.

Resources

Riley Myers
Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy of Arizona
1903 E Roeser Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85040
rmyers@ptaa.org
(602) 305-8865

Rita Rodriguez
State Homeless Education Program Coordinator
1535 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85007
homeless@azed.gov
(602) 542-4963

For More Information
National Center Toll-Free Helpline: (800) 308-2145
Arizona Department of Education Homeless Education Program
National Center For Homeless Education
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

McKinney-Vento Related PDFs