Public school data reported to the U.S. Department of Education during the 2017-2018 school year shows that an estimated 18,625 public school students experienced homelessness over the course of the year. Of that total, 255 students were unsheltered, 2,453 were in shelters, 1,507 were in hotels/motels, and 14,410 were sharing housing. *
Northwest Allen County Schools is committed to serving all our students to develop the talent and nurture the creativity of each learner. Services are available to assist our families.
McKinney-Vento
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act developed as a result of upwards of 50 percent of homeless children not attending school. Congress created this act which was signed into law by President Ronald Regan on July 22, 1987, to provide states with funding to eliminate barriers to education. The goal of the McKinney-Vento Act was to ensure the enrollment, attendance and success of homeless children and youth in school.
The NACS District McKinney-Vento liaison is Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bill Toler. Please contact her directly with questions about available services.
NACS CONTACT:
Dr. Bill Toler
Assistant Superintendent, McKinney-Vento Liaison
Northwest Allen County Schools
[email protected]
(260) 637-3155
STATE CONTACT:
Gina Woodward - she/her
Homeless Education Specialist
Indiana Department of Education
Division of Title Grants and Supports
[email protected]
(317) 232-9189
Who Is Homeless?
Homeless students who lack a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence qualify as homeless. This includes students who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason. Students who lack alternate and adequate accommodations may be living in:
- motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds;
- emergency or transitional shelters;
- public or private place not designed for human dwelling;
- cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
In addition, other students who count as homeless include those who are considered migrants, are awaiting foster care placement, or who are considered “Unaccompanied Youth,” meaning they meet the definition of homeless and they are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
COVID-19 information
Residency and Educational Rights
Students who are in temporary, inadequate and homeless living situations have the following rights:
- Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended or the school in whose attendance area they are currently staying, even if they do not have all the documents normally required at the time of enrollment;
- Access to free meals and textbooks, Title I and other educational programs as well as other comparable services including transportation;
- Attendance in the same classes and activities that students in other living situations also participate in without fear of being separated or treated differently due to their housing arrangements.
McKinney-Vento Internet Resources
https://www.doe.in.gov/elme/mckinney-vento-internet-resources
*source: United States Interagency Council on Homelessness