The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures educational rights and support for children and youth experiencing homelessness. We are committed to identifying and serving all students in our district, including those who are homeless. Here you will find resources and information to help families and students understand their rights and access available services.

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and students as those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. There also needs to be a precipitating event which occurred beyond the family's control.

Students who are considered homeless are:

• living with others due to the loss of housing or other hardship
• staying in cars, tents/ campgrounds, motels/hotels, parks, buildings or are unsheltered
• residing in homeless or domestic violence shelters or have been abandoned in hospitals  
• "Unaccompanied homeless youth" including any child who is "not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian." This includes youth who have run away from home, been thrown out of their home, been abandoned by parents or guardians, or separated from their parents for any other reason.
   
   

Resources related to McKinney-Vento Act:

• BEC: Education for Homeless Youth
• Information for School-Age Youth
• Homeless Poster Parent English
• Homeless Poster Youth English
• College and Career Readiness for Homeless Students
• The Rights of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
• Methacton School District Policy 251: Students Experiencing Homelessness, Foster Care, and Other Education Instability
• Dispute Resolution Process
• Dispute Letter English - Dispute Letter Spanish

Contact the Homeless Liason for Methacton:

Jennifer Johnson
JJohnson@methacton.org
(610) 489-5000 ext. 25406