The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires school districts to ensure that homeless students have access to educational opportunities and other services needed to meet the same high academic achievement standards as all students.
Homeless children and youth are those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes:
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Children and youth who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters, or awaiting foster care placement
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
- Migratory children and youth who qualify as homeless because they are living in similar circumstances listed above
