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Homeless, displaced & Families in transition information

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

The education provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act were designed to protect the educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness.

If your current address is a temporary living arrangement and it is due to loss of housing or economic hardship, you may meet the definition of displaced or homeless status. Please contact the registrar at your child’s school to fill out a student residency questionnaire or contact the Homeless Liaison.

The Act’s Key Provisions
The McKinney-Vento Act (Section 725) specifies and protects the rights of children and youth in homeless situations. Highlights include:

  • Immediate Enrollment – The right to be enrolled immediately in school, without immunization or academic records, and birth certificate.
  • Choice of Schools – A student who is displaced or experiencing homelessness has two choices in deciding which school to attend:
    • The school of origin (the school the student attended when he/she became homeless).
    • The school in the zone where the student is currently residing.
  • Transportation – Students who are displaced or in homeless situations are entitled to transportation to and from the school of origin, if it is feasible, in the student’s best interest, and requested by the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth.
  • Services – Students experiencing homelessness are entitled to the same programs and services that are available to other children in the District, such as gifted and talented education, special education, vocational education, English Language Learner services, and tutoring.
  • Dispute Resolution – If problems arise between the school and parents or between districts, the parent shall be referred to the school’s homeless liaison. In the meantime, the student must be immediately enrolled or if enrolled, remain in school and receive transportation pending the outcome of the dispute resolution process.

Homeless Educational Liaison

Aldine ISD is committed to identifying and serving all displaced students or those experiencing homelessness. Aldine ISD may also offer additional assistance to students and their families experiencing homelessness. If you require additional information, contact the Homeless Liaison at 281-985-6425.

Aldine ISD Dispute Resolution Procedure for Homeless Students & Families

The McKinney-Vento Act, Education of Homeless Youth Program, Subtitle VII-B, Section 722(g)(3), provides the following guidance regarding enrollment disputes:

If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment, the child/youth must be immediately admitted to the school in which he/she is seeking enrollment, pending resolution of the dispute [Sec. 722(g)(3)(E)(i)];

The parent or guardian must be provided with a written explanation of theschool’s decision on the dispute, including the right to appeal [Sec. 722(g)(3)(E)(ii)];

The parent/guardian/youth must be referred to the school district homeless contact person, who will carry out the state’s grievance procedure as expeditiously as possible after receiving notice of the dispute [Sec. 722(g)(3)(E)(iii)]; and,

In the case of an unaccompanied youth, the homeless liaison shall ensure that the youth is immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of the dispute[Sec. 722(g)(3)(E)(iv)].

If eligibility, enrollment or placement disputes or complaints arise regarding the education of homeless children and youth, Aldine ISD recommends that: the person having the complaint first contact the school or district (e.g., the local school district Liaison for homeless students, the principal, or superintendent) to present their concerns to the people closest to the situation and most likely to be able to resolve it quickly.

Districts that make determinations on eligibility, enrollment or school placement for homeless students that conflict with the wishes of the parent or student involved are required to provide notice of the determination in writing to all parties, along with instructions on how to appeal the decision. Students are entitled to remain in their school of choice until the appeal process has reached completion

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