Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
The McKinney-Vento Act was first enacted in 1987 as a subsection of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. It was reauthorized in 2015 as Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that children and youth experiencing homelessness can enroll in and attend school without barriers. Specifically, the Statement of Policy provides an overview of the purpose of the McKinney-Vento Act:
- Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
- In any State where compulsory residency requirements or other requirements in laws, regulations, practices, or policies, may act as a barrier to the identification of, or the enrollment, State Coordinators’ Handbook | National Center for Homeless Education | p.23 attendance, or success in school of, homeless children and youths, the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State will review and undertake steps to revise such laws, regulations, practices, or policies to ensure that homeless children and youths are afforded the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.
- Homelessness is not sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment.
- Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that such children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards to which all students are held.
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