McKinney Vento Law/Homeless Student Information

Rights of Students Experiencing Homelessness (Information for School-Aged Youth)

If you live in any of the following situations:

"Doubled up" living with friends or family due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
Living in a motel, hotel, or campground due to lack of adequate housing
Living in emergency, temporary or transitional shelters
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings
Youth not residing with legal parent or guardian in one of the above situations

Then you have certain rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.

You have the right to:

Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there. Enroll, attend classes, and participate fully in all school activities while the school gathers records.
Continue in the school you attended before you became homeless or the school you last attended, if that is in your best interest and it is feasible. The School District’s local liaisons for homeless education are:
Talley Westerberg for Winnacunnet High School - twesterberg@winnacunnet.org
Annaliese Dunn for Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Seabrook, and South Hampton - adunn@sau21.nh.gov
Receive transportation to the school you attended before you became homeless or the school you last attended, if you request such transportation.
Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children served in these programs
Enroll in school without giving a permanent address. Schools cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay school enrollment.
Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.
Free breakfast and lunch for the school year.

When you move, you should do the following:

Contact the School District’s local liaison for homeless education for help enrolling in a new school or arranging to continue in your former school. (Ask the local liaison for homeless education, the shelter provider, or a social worker for assistance with clothing and supplies, if needed.)
Tell your teachers anything that you think they need to know to help you in school.

Dispute process

For any decision in the enrollment process of a homeless student, including any determination whether a living situation meets the definition of homeless, if the decision is in conflict with the wishes of the homeless student’s parent/guardian, or, if applicable, the unaccompanied youth, the District shall provide a written explanation, in a manner and form understandable to the student’s parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth. District personnel receiving enrollment requests or information pertaining to homeless students should immediately refer those requests to the District Homeless Liaison and Superintendent’s office.

In the event of a dispute, the District shall immediately enroll the student in the school in which the parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth seeks to enroll, which enrollment shall continue pending resolution of the dispute. Additionally, while enrollment disputes are pending, students have the right to participate fully in school and receive all services for which they would be eligible, as the definition of enrollment includes “attending classes and participating fully in school activities.

Unaccompanied Youth will be assisted throughout the appeal process by the local Homeless Liaison, as specified in the McKinney Vento legislation.

Please see policy JFABD, Section F, for more detailed information related to the Dispute Process. Please note that records pertaining to this policy are maintained in alignment with the confidentiality provisions of the Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) and School Board Policy JRA.

Further appeals may be made to the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, Mary A. Toomey, Ed.D., mtoomey@sau21.nh.gov, or (603) 926-8992.

The New Hampshire State Coordinator for Homeless Education can be contacted in the case of disputes still remaining unresolved after appeal. The New Hampshire State Coordinator for Homeless Education is Christina Dotson, who can be reached by email at Christina.L.Dotson@doe.nh.gov or by phone at (603) 271-3840.

Information on this page is provided by the National Center for Homeless Education and the State of New Hampshire Department of Education. Please visit them online at www.serve.org/nche and NH Department of Education, Homeless Children and Youth

Resources
SchoolHouse Connection
Supporting the attendance of students experiencing homelessness.

NH Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Housing Support
(603) 271-9196