Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY)

Overview

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program's major responsibility is to implement the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. Homeless children and unaccompanied youth must have access to public school educational programs and services that allow them to meet the same challenging state academic standards to which all students are held.

Program Elements

• Designate a homeless liaison in each school district.
• Identify and immediately enroll any homeless child or youth (preschool to grade 12), even without academic or medical records.
• Continue children or youths in their "school of origin" for the duration of their homelessness.
• Inform parents/guardians of the educational rights of their children.
• Provide transportation, at the request of the parent, to the school of origin.
• Ensure no barriers exist (for example, residency requirements, lack of transportation or school fees) for full educational participation.
• Develop partnerships with community agencies to identify and assist with basic services for homeless families, children, and youth.
• Ensure homeless students are not segregated or stigmatized.

Economic Support

The Resources and Strategies document is designed to help school district staff assist families and unaccompanied children and youth (not in the physical presence of a parent or guardian) access community resources to meet basic needs.

For questions about this information, contact Mary M. Maronek (608) 261-6322

Last updated on 4/16/2009 7:07:34 AM