Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Have the Right to a Free, Appropriate Public Education Presenter:

McKinney-Vento Act: Enrollment

• School placement in:

oSchool of origin, if the parent wishes and it is feasible

oSchool in area of current residency

•Educational rights posted in:

oAll public schools

oThe community

• Access for unaccompanied youth

• A dispute resolution process


	You may need to explain the following terms:
	School of origin—the school the student attended before becoming homeless or where the student was last enrolled. During the chaotic time students are experiencing, having a stable school environment can give students a place to count on with people who know them.
	Unaccompanied youth—student who, for whatever reason, does not live with a parent/guardian. (The local liaison must assist unaccompanied youth in the enrollment process.)

	If the state has created materials for posting, have copies available for participants. The state’s enrollment dispute resolution can be included in the participant’s handout.

	Appendix D of the Toolkit contains sample posters and family brochures, and Appendix E contains a variety of enrollment forms.

	If following up on the example of Maria and her children, you could note that the posting of rights and brochures could have alerted Maria that her children could enroll.