Washington State Requirements and Guidance for Education of Homeless Children and Youth
The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve homeless students.

Defining Homeless
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

• Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason

• Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations

• Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters

• Children and youth abandoned in hospitals

• Children and youth awaiting foster care placement in transition

• Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)

• Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations

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

If you believe you may qualify please click on the Housing Questionnaire under resources to the right. You will then be able to print and fill out the document. Bring this document to the district and the McKinney Vento Case Manager will contact if you qualify.

Eligible children have the right to:

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.

• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.

• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.

• Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible.

• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.

• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children's needs.

Services
If you believe your child may be eligible, please contact the Mt. Adams School District McKinney Vento Team:

• District McKinney Vento Case Manager- Victoria Barajas - cell (509)930-6493, vbarajas@masd209.org

• Harrah Elementary/Mt. Adams Middle School Liaison- Danette Hoagland- (509) 848-5702, dhoagland@masd209.org

• White Swan High School Liaison- Helen Haggerty - (509) 874-8614 or cell (509)949-9208, hhaggerty@masd209.org

• District Liaison-Cesar Hernandez, at (509) 848-2935, chernandez@masd209.org

Our liaisons will be able to share the services and supports that are available to you.

You may also contact the National Center for Homeless Education at (800) 308 2145, https://nche.ed.gov/, for further information.
For OSPI resources for homeless children and youth, see https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/access-opportunity-education/homeless-education/resources-homeless-children-and-youth.

Staff Training and Materials
For training materials and webinars, please visit http://www.k12.wa.us/HomelessEd/Resources.aspx

MASD Resource Guide

A paper copy is also available in the buildings

MA's Closet Information

Located at 691 Signal Peak Road, White Swan, WA

MA's Closet is available for students/Families who need clothing, food, shower, or need to wash/dry clothes, or need additional resources. The flyer is below with the dates and times we are open. If you would like a copy of the flyer please click the MA's Closet link under resources.