Homeless Education

This McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires that children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to the same free and appropriate public education, including preschool education, as provided to other students. Knox County Schools ensures homeless children and youth are enrolled in school by removing barriers including lack of transportation or required documentation for enrollment.

Knox County Schools provides a full time Homeless Liaison to work with and assist homeless children and youth and their families. The Liaison provides ongoing sustainability in the program by ensuring that homeless students are immediately enrolled in school and provided the appropriate services and resources to achieve educational stability and success.

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Policies and Procedures

Policies

» J-140 - Students Experiencing Homelessness

Dispute Resolution Procedure

Level I: Appeal to the Homeless Liaison or School Culture Supervisor

If a parent or unaccompanied youth wishes to appeal the LEA's decision related to eligibility, enrollment, or school selection, the appeal is submitted to the LEA's homeless liaison or school culture supervisor.

Level II: Appeal to the Superintendent

If the dispute is unresolved, the parent or unaccompanied youth may appeal the Level I decision to the superintendent or designee.

Level III: Appeal to the State Coordinator

If the dispute continues to be unresolved, the parent or unaccompanied youth may appeal the Level III decision to the McKinney-Vento state coordinator at the Tennessee Department of Education.

Level IV: Appeal to the State Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Federal Programs and Oversight

If the parent, unaccompanied youth, or district wishes to appeal the Level IV decision rendered by the McKinney-Vento state coordinator, an appeal may be submitted to the assistant commissioner of the division of federal programs and oversight.

Resources

McKinney-Vento Program (MVP)

How Does McKinney-Vento Define Homelessness?

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason. The definition includes (but is not limited to) children and youth who are:

Sharing housing with others (doubled up or couch-surfing)

Living in hotels or motels

Living in shelters or transitional housing

Living in places unfit for human habitation, such as cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, and bus and train stations.

What Rights Do Homeless Students Have Through The McKinney-Vento Act?

Enrollment: Immediate enrollment in school, even without required documents. The school will help obtain documents while the student is enrolled in school.

School of Origin: Attend their school of origin unless contrary to the wishes of the parent/unaccompanied youth and/or not in the student’s best interest. The school of origin is defined as the school the homeless child or youth last attended while permanently housed or the school in which the student or youth was last enrolled, which includes Preschools and “receiving schools.” (i.e., the feeder school for a student’s school of origin). A homeless student or youth must be able to remain in his or her school of origin for the duration of homelessness or until the end of the school year in which the child or youth becomes permanently housed. (US DOE)

Transportation: Transportation to and from their school of origin

Services: Services comparable to other students, including Title 1 services, career and technical education, PreK Programs, and programs for gifted and talented students.

Support: Support for academic success and issues including access to a district McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison

How Can The McKinney-Vento Program (MVP) Help?

Assistance with school enrollment process and paperwork
Transportation to school
Obtaining birth certificates, immunization records, and school records
Advocate for student and family rights
School supplies and backpacks
Free breakfast and lunch
Clothing, shoes, hygiene items, and diapers
Food
Housing and community resource information
Referrals to medical, dental, and mental health services
KAT passes
FASFA letters

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Homeless Education

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Tamera Saunders

Heather Willis