McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act

Supporting Students and Families Experiencing Housing Instability in North Carolina

Our district is committed to ensuring that every student has full access to a free, public education—no matter where they live or their current living situation. Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, students experiencing homelessness have specific educational rights and supports, and North Carolina follows this federal law closely to ensure students remain stable and connected to school.

What Does “Homeless” Mean Under the McKinney-Vento Act?

A student is considered “homeless” if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
Examples include students who are:

• Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship (“doubled-up”)

• Living in motels or hotels due to lack of alternative accommodations

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters

• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, campsites, or similar places

• Staying in substandard or inadequate housing

• Migratory children and youth living in any of the situations listed above

Students qualify regardless of whether they are with a parent/guardian or on their own.

Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis and may apply even if the living situation does not exactly match the examples above.

Rights of Students Experiencing Homelessness in North Carolina

Students who qualify under McKinney-Vento have the right to:

• Immediate school enrollment — even without typical enrollment documents such as proof of residency, immunization records, birth certificates, or school records

• Attend the school of origin (the school the student attended before losing housing) or the school serving the area where they are currently living — whichever is in the student’s best interest

• Transportation to and from the school of origin if requested

• Full participation in school activities, programs, and services (including sports, extracurricular activities, special education, 504 plans, gifted services, and English learner services)

• Support with academic, social-emotional, and basic needs

• Protection from discrimination or stigmatization due to housing status

Rights of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

An unaccompanied youth is a student experiencing homelessness who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Unaccompanied youth have the same rights listed above and may:

• Enroll in school without a parent or guardian

• Receive assistance from the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison to enroll, request transportation, and access supports

• Participate fully in school while housing and guardianship situations are being resolved

Dispute-Resolution Process in North Carolina

If there is a disagreement about a student’s eligibility, school selection, or enrollment:

1. The student must be immediately enrolled in the school selected by the parent/guardian or unaccompanied youth while the dispute is being resolved.

2. The school/district will provide a written explanation of the decision and the reason(s) for the disagreement.

3. The notice will include:

   • The right to appeal the decision

   • Contact information for the district McKinney-Vento liaison

   • Contact information for the State Coordinator for Homeless Education

4. If the dispute is not resolved at the district level, it may be appealed to the North Carolina State Coordinator, who will issue a final written decision.

Families and youth will receive support from the liaison throughout the entire process.

District Contact:

If you believe a student may qualify for support — or if you have questions — please contact our McKinney-Vento Liaison:

Courtney Owen  — McKinney-Vento District Liaison
Phone: 828-885-7374
Email: courtneyo@tcsnc.org

All conversations are confidential and focused on helping students succeed.

State Director:

Lisa Phillips

Email: Lisa.Phillips@dpi.nc.gov

Additional Resources

• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction — Homeless Education Program

• National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

• Local community agencies supporting housing and family needs

Our Commitment

No child or teen should lose access to school because of a housing crisis. We are here to ensure stability, safety, and opportunity for every student.