Going through a tough time? You have rights.
If your family is dealing with housing instability — staying with other people, living in a shelter or hotel, or moving between temporary places — there are protections in place for your student. You don't have to navigate this alone. Your student still has the right to attend school and receive support.
What is McKinney-Vento?
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that protects the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Under this law, students have the right to:
- Enroll in school immediately — even without typical documentation like immunization records, proof of residency, or prior school records
- Stay enrolled in their current school even if their housing situation changes
- Receive support services to help them succeed
- Be treated with dignity and respect
These rights apply to online schools too. Your student's housing situation does not affect their right to a quality education.
What this means for your family
If your family is covered by McKinney-Vento, you may be entitled to:
Your student can enroll or stay enrolled even if you can't provide standard documentation right away.
Once onboarded and scheduled, your student won't wait out enrollment processing before accessing coursework and support.
Your school can connect you to additional academic and social-emotional supports.
If your family lacks reliable internet, your school may be able to help. Ask your Success Coach or McKinney-Vento liaison.
How to access support
If you think your family may be eligible, reach out to your school. Every school has a McKinney-Vento liaison responsible for connecting eligible families with services. Their contact information is available through your school office.
Your liaison will ask additional questions about your situation to connect you with the right support. They will keep your information completely confidential.
Additional resources
These national resources are available to support families: