What is McKinney-Vento?
The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is the primary piece of legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The Act is also known as Title X, Part C of the Every Students Succeeds Act. On December 10, 2015 the President signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Under the previous version of ESEA (the No Child Left Behind Act), the education of homeless children and youth was included in Title X, Part C. Under ESSA homeless education is included in Title IX, Part A.
What protections does the McKinney-Vento Act require for homeless children and youths?
Under the McKinney-Vento Act, State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) must review and revise policies and procedures to remove barriers to a high-quality education for homeless children and youths.
The McKinney-Vento Act also requires that:
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homeless students who move have the right to remain in their schools of origin (i.e., the school the student attended when permanently housed or in which the student was last enrolled, which includes preschools) if that is in the student’s best interest;
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transportation must be provided to or from a student’s school of origin, at the request of a parent, guardian, or, in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the local liaison;
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homeless students must have access to all programs and services for which they are eligible, including special education services, preschool, school nutrition programs, language assistance for English learners, career and technical education, gifted and talented programs, magnet schools, charter schools, summer learning, online learning, and before and after-school care;
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parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youths have the right to dispute an eligibility, school selection, or enrollment decision.
Homeless Data for Mooresville Graded School District:
2020 - 2021: 82 students
2019 - 2020: 67 students
2018 - 2019: 69 students
2017 - 2018: 59 students
2016 - 2017: 69 students
2015 - 2016: 71 students
2014 - 2015: 82 students
To access homeless data for the entire state of NC, please click here - NCHE NC state web page: http://profiles.nche.seiservices.com/StateProfile.aspx?StateID=33.
McKinney-Vento contact for Mooresville Graded School District:
Traci Willis
Mooresville High School
659 East Center Avenue
Mooresville, NC 28115
twillis@mgsd.k12.nc.us
P: 704-658-2620
F: 704-662-3732
McKinney-Vento state coordinator for North Carolina:
Lisa Phillips
P: 336-315-7491
Helpful Links
The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is an information clearinghouse and technical assistance center in support of the homeless education community nationwide in the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act (Title X, Part C of the No Child Left Behind Act). NCHE is funded through the U.S. Department of Education and is housed at the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
NCHE supports educators, service providers, State Coordinators for homeless education, local school district homeless liaisons, parents, community agencies, and researchers in meeting the needs of homeless children and youth. Resources include: publications, phone and email technical assistance, a listserve, on-site and online training, and current and comprehensive information.
Visit the NCHE website
The North Carolina Homeless Education Program (NCHEP) addresses the educational needs of homeless children and youth in North Carolina through the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act (Title X, Part C of the No Child Left Behind Act). NCHEP provides information, technical assistance, and training to local homeless liaisons in school districts, to school and school district personnel, to service providers, and to community agencies.
Visit the NCHEP website
