Education for Homeless Children & Unaccompanied Youth

  • McKinney- Vento

     

    The intent of the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program is to remove all educational barriers facing children and youth experiencing homelessness, with an emphasis on educational enrollment, attendance, and success

    Parents/Guardians/Students who may be experiencing homelessness, please contact the District Homeless Liaison, James Patterson (contact information below)

    Who qualifies for McKinney-Vento? 

    Any displaced child or youth who is living in a shelter, motel, inadequate trailer or house, is staying temporarily with relatives or friends due to economic hardship or loss of housing, or is living in any other homeless situation has educational rights under the McKinney-Vento Act. 

    This includes children and youth who... 

    • Share the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned.
    • Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. 
    • Live in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar setting.
    • Are migratory. 

    Unaccompanied Homeless Youth 
    Any youth who is homeless (as defined above) and is not in the physical custody of their parent or guardian. 

    Educational Rights of McKinney-Vento Eligible Children and Youth:

    • Immediate enrollment with full and equal opportunity to succeed in school 
    • Choice between the neighborhood school or the school of last origin (school last attended) 
    • Transportation to the school of origin 
    • Immediate access to free school meals and educational services such as assistance with school supplies, clothing, and fee waivers 
    • Referrals to community partners to include health care, dental, mental, health and substance abuse, housing, and other appropriate services 
    • Unaccompanied youth are considered independent students on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

     

    Staff Supporting McKinney-Vento

    James Patterson
    McKinney-Vento/Homeless Liaison
    james.patterson@pueblod60.org
    719-240-6640

    Donna Crawford
    Director of Federal Programs
    donna.crawford@pueblod60.org
    719-549-7168
     

    Link to Colorado Department of Education website for more information