SAU#6

A student is considered "homeless" if he or she is presently:

• Living in a shelter
• Living in a motel, hotel, or campground due to lack of adequate housing
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings
• "Doubled up" living with friends or family due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
• An "unaccompanied youth" living without a parent/guardian
• A child of a migrant worker
• In other situations that are not fixed, regular, or adequate for nighttime residence

Know your educational rights!
Under the federal McKinney­-Vento Act, children and youth in homeless situations have the right to:

• Enroll in school immediately, even if missing records and documents normally required for enrollment, such as a birth certificate, proof of residence, previous school records, or immunization/medical records
• Enroll, attend classes, and participate fully in all school activities while the school gathers records
• Attend either the local school or the "school of origin", if this is in their best interest; the "school of origin" is the school the child attended when he/she was permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled
• Receive transportation support to and from the "school of origin" if in the best interest of the child(ren)
• Free breakfast and lunch for the school year
• Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children served in these programs