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Hartford School District

Mckinney-Vento / Homeless Resources

McKinney-Vento /​ Homeless Resources

  • Christina Key
    McKinney-Vento Liaison Contact
    Office: 802-359- 4769 x7112
    Work Cell: 802-234-1211
    [Email] 

  • The McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) is a federal law that provides important educational rights and services to PreK-12 children and youth experiencing homelessness. At its core, the law requires state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to remove barriers to school enrollment and attendance, provide transportation and school stability when needed, ensure full participation in academic and extracurricular programs, and designate liaisons to support students experiencing homelessness. (source: School House Connection)

  • Under 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2), “homeless children and youth” are those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those who are:

    • Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
    • Staying in motels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to the lack of an adequate alternative
    • Staying in shelters or transitional housing
    • Sleeping in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or similar settings


    “Unaccompanied youth” are homeless children and youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian — and are specifically protected. (42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6))

  • The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act guarantees educational rights and supports for students experiencing homelessness. In general, McKinney-Vento eligible students have a right to:

    • Equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as is provided to other children and youth [42 U.S.C. §11431(1)
    • Immediate enrollment, even when records normally required for enrollment are not present [42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(3)(C)]
    • Remain in the school of origin, if it is in the student’s best interest, in order to maintain educational stability [42 U.S.C. §11432 (g)(3)(A)]
    • Access all educational and related services for which they are eligible [42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(6)(A)(iii)], including Title I services and free school meals
    • Full participation in school, which may include participation in extracurricular activities [42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(1)(F)(iii)]
    • Transportation, provided by the LEA, to and from the school of origin [42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(1)(J)(iii)]


    Sourced from Vermont Agency of Education