The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures all children and youth have equal access to free public education, including students experiencing homelessness.

Children who qualify as homeless under the Federal definition will receive a free, appropriate public education in the same way as all other students within the district. These students will not face any form of stigma or segregation due to their homelessness. Instead, they will be enrolled in the same schools that serve students living in their area. The Edgewood City School District is committed to ensuring that homeless students are treated equitably. To this end, we have implemented comprehensive safeguards and policies designed to prevent any form of discrimination based on their homelessness, thereby fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment for all.

Homeless children and youth are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, and include those who meet any of the following criteria:

• Share housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

• Live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or due to a lack of alternate adequate accommodations

• Live in emergency or transitional shelters

• Are abandoned in hospitals

• Are awaiting foster care placement

• Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings

• Live in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting

Additionally, pursuant to federal and state law, migratory children who are living in circumstances described above are also considered homeless. Homeless preschool-aged children and their families shall be provided equal access to the educational services for which they are eligible, including preschool programs administered by the district.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the liaison for homeless children and youth, Lindsay White at lindsay.white@edgewoodschools.net

Please visit the National Center for Homeless Education webpage for additional information.