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Homeless Education 101
» Basic Information on Homeless Education
Every Child Has a Right to an Education
The federal Mckinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act and Texas state law protect the rights of homeless children and youth to receive a free and appropriate public education. Nearly everyone in Texas who is between the ages of 5 and 21 on September 1 of the school year and has not been expelled has the right to attend school, even if they:
- don't have a permanent address
- have a previous address in another town or state
- don't live with a parent or legal guardian
- live temporarily doubled-up with friends or family
- sleep in a shelter
- sleep in a campground, car, abandoned building, or other facility not designated for, or ordinarily used as regular accommodations for, human beings
- don't have school records
- don't have school records
Below are links to specific information about educating homeless children and youth. Our Fact Sheets also provide a great deal of information about implementing provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act and Texas state law.
Laws
Access the text of the applicable laws, or visit the links below for broader discussion of specific provisions.
- Enrollment and eligibility provisions
- School selection provisions
- Transportation provisions
- Free and reduced-price lunch and breakfast programs
- Immunization requirements
- Special education
- U.S. Department of Education's guidance on parent involvement (pdf 600kb)
Other Resources
- Case studies (pdf 24kb) developed by the Homeless Education Program at the Region 14 ESC in Abilene
- Dispute Resolution (pdf 905kb) and sample letters
- Domestic Violence, Homelessness, and Children's Educaton (pdf 5mb)