Homeless Student Support
The AASD supports homeless students through the McKinney-Vento Act, offering immediate school enrollment, transportation assistance, educational supplies, and community referrals for securing stable housing and accessing nutritious meals to finding emotional support and navigating eviction processes, a network of organizations and services stands ready to lend a helping hand.
McKinney Vento supports include:
- School enrollment stability/consistency: students experiencing homelessness can continue to attend their school of origin (the school they have been attending)
- Assessment of needed transportation support to/from the school of origin
- Immediate school enrollment & assistance overcoming any school enrollment barriers Authorization of free school meals
- Waiving of school fees
- Access to educational materials/supplies
- Assistance with basic needs & linking families to community resources
- Post-high school support planning for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
*Support is determined each school year and remains in place for the duration of the school year in which the child is qualified under McKinney Vento
Resources
What is McKinney-Vento?
The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homeless children and youths as those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
Examples within the law include children and youth in the following situations:
- sharing housing due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
- living in hotels, motels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative adequate housing;
- living in emergency or transitional shelters;
- abandoned in hospitals;
- living in a public or private place not designated for, or normally used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
- living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar places; and/or
- living in one of the above circumstances and who are migratory.
- DPI Homeless Hotline (toll free): 1-855-235-0185
- Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program Non-Regulatory Guidance
- Supporting the Success of Homeless Children and Youths: A fact sheet & tips for teachers, principals, school leaders, counselors, and other school staff
Parents or guardians of students experiencing homelessness or unaccompanied homeless youth have the right under McKinney-Vento to appeal or dispute decisions made by the district regarding eligibility, school selection, or enrollment. [42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(3)(E)] In the event of a dispute, please complete this form with the AASD Homeless Support Liasion.
McKinney Vento Homeless Student Support Liaison
Molly McGregor
email
Office: (920) 852-5323
Cell: (920) 840-7029
AASD Welcome Center,
2701 N Oneida St, Suite C3
Appleton, WI
Connect with our Liaison
Students experiencing homelessness need to be qualified for McKinney Vento support through the school district McKinney Vento Liaison each school year.
The liaison is key to ensuring homeless children and youth receive the services they need and is the primary contact between homeless families, schools and staff, shelter workers, and other service providers.
The liaison can explain educational supports, assess options for staying at the school of origin or transferring to the new resident/neighborhood school, and assist families in linking to needed community resources for housing and basic needs. Parents and/or students can self identify or school staff can refer students for qualification and support.
Students are determined eligible for support by the district McKinney Vento Liaison through:
- Self-report (online enrollment/annual registration forms), family/student disclosure of homeless situations)
- School staff referral (School Social Workers, School Counselors, Secretaries, Teachers, etc.)
- Student transfers to AASD from other districts with McKinney Vento determination already in place for the current school year
Laura Jackson
Executive Director of Student Services
(920) 852-5317 ext. 60241
email