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Homeless Students

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education

As part of the “Every Student Succeeds” Act of 2015, provisions have been made to ensure that homeless students have no barriers to getting an education comparable with any other students. The McKinney-Vento Act, a federal act that protects the rights of homeless students, classifies families as homeless if they have a precipitating event [Abandonment, Act of Nature/Natural Disaster, Death of Parent/Guardian, Domestic Violence, Eviction, Fire, Hospitalization of Parent/Guardian, Incarceration of Parent/Guardian, Left Home, Military, Parental Job Loss/Loss of Income, Parent Divorce/Separation, Separated from Family, Other poverty-related Situation, Other, and Unknown]. Along with the precipitating event, the family also must be experiencing one of the following.

  • Sharing the house of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason, called “doubled up”
  • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds to due lack of alternative adequate accommodations
  • Living in emergency or transitional shelters
  • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings

The Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY) program, authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act), is designed to address the needs of homeless children and youths and ensure educational rights and protections for these children and youths. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) amended the McKinney-Vento Act, and changes made by the ESSA will take effect on October 1, 2016.

School Counselors and Social Workers will work with students defined as homeless to remove barriers that may prevent them from receiving education services.

Anyone who believes their child may qualify as homeless should contact Karen Taratuski, Homeless Liaison, at ktaratuski@gvsd.org, or 610-889-2125 ext. 51985.

For more information, please visit "Pennsylvania Department of Education Basic Education Circular for Homeless Youth."

Resources are available to support families in the Great Valley School District. Click here to see a list of community resources and organizations that may be available to assist your family. For other supports, please reach out to your school counselor or social worker.