Skip to main content
Voice Recognition
X
 Select Language 
                      

Homeless Services

McKinney Vento Homeless Education Assistance
Authorized under Federal law through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, the South-Western City School District provides services to ensure that identified children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to a free and appropriate public education by removing barriers due to homelessness. SWCSD can help by assisting with school selection and enrollment, school transportation, wellness checks, and by addressing barriers that affect school enrollment, attendance and full participation. Youth who qualify under the McKinney-Vento Act are individuals who, due to a loss of home, economic hardship, or similar reason, lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
SWCSD District Liason for Homeless Education
Natalie Grayson
State and Federal Programs Coordinator
614-801-8390
[email protected]

State Coordinator for Homeless Education
Susannah Wayland
Coordinator
614-387-7725

McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless - the term "homeless children and youth"

  • Means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence...; and includes-
  • Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals
  • Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g.. park benches, etc.)
  • Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
  • Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations

Rights and Services:

  • Immediate school enrollment and full participation in all school activities for eligible children, even when records normally required for enrollment are not available
  • The right of children and youth experiencing homelessness to remain in their school of origin (the school the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled, when feasible and in the child's or youth's best interest to do so.
  • Transportation to and from the school origin.
  • Access to programs and services, including special education services, preschool services, free school meals, Title I services, services for English language learners, vocational/technical education, gifted and talented services, and before and after-school care.
  • Rights and protections specifically for unaccompanied youth (youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian who is experiencing homelessness, including allowing them to be immediately enrolled without proof of guardianship.
  • The right to dispute an enrollment decision and for a child or youth to be admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending the resolution of the dispute.

Need Assistance?

  • Contact the South-Western City School District Department of State and Federal Programs for assistance at (614) 801-8390
  • Call the National Center for Homeless Education at the toll-free Help Line number: 1-800-308-2145