The McKinney-Vento Act and Children and Youth ... - State of Michigan
The McKinney-Vento Act and Children and Youth ... - State of Michigan
The McKinney-Vento Act and Children and Youth ... - State of Michigan
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Overview <strong>of</strong> the <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong><br />
<strong>Act</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Youth</strong><br />
Awaiting Foster Care Placement<br />
“ <strong>The</strong> biggest barrier for a youth is to end up being 17 years old, facing aging out <strong>of</strong> the<br />
system, <strong>and</strong> with just a few high school credits. What does he do? Drop out? Become<br />
homeless? End up in the delinquency system? Get a GED at best?”<br />
— Margaret Harner 27<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong> <strong>Act</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong> <strong>Act</strong> is a federal law designed to increase the school<br />
enrollment, attendance, <strong>and</strong> success <strong>of</strong> children <strong>and</strong> youth experiencing<br />
homelessness. <strong>The</strong> <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong> <strong>Act</strong> was passed in 1987 <strong>and</strong><br />
reauthorized as part <strong>of</strong> the No Child Left Behind <strong>Act</strong> in 2001. It is the only<br />
federal law dedicated specifically to supporting the educational success <strong>of</strong><br />
students in homeless situations.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong> <strong>Act</strong> establishes educational rights for students <strong>and</strong><br />
provides every state with funding to support school access <strong>and</strong> success for<br />
these students. Each state education agency is entitled to reserve up to 25%<br />
<strong>of</strong> its <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong> funding for state activities. <strong>The</strong> remaining funds<br />
must be awarded to local education agencies through need-based <strong>and</strong> qualitybased<br />
competitive sub-grants. <strong>The</strong> current funding level for the <strong>McKinney</strong>-<br />
<strong>Vento</strong> <strong>Act</strong> is $64 million. Based on this funding level, states receive between<br />
$150,000 <strong>and</strong> $8.3 million, according to a formula that is based on the<br />
number <strong>of</strong> students in poverty in the state.<br />
Due to the limited<br />
funding available under<br />
the <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong><br />
<strong>Act</strong>, only 6% <strong>of</strong> school<br />
districts nationwide<br />
receive <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong><br />
funds, serving roughly<br />
half <strong>of</strong> the homeless<br />
students identified by<br />
<strong>and</strong> enrolled in schools.<br />
Essentially, the <strong>McKinney</strong>-<strong>Vento</strong> <strong>Act</strong> requires that state <strong>and</strong> local education<br />
agencies provide students experiencing homelessness with school access <strong>and</strong><br />
support their attendance <strong>and</strong> success. <strong>The</strong> cornerstone <strong>of</strong> the <strong>McKinney</strong>-<br />
<strong>Vento</strong> <strong>Act</strong> is school stability: Students who are homeless can remain in one<br />
school, even if their temporary living situation is located in another school<br />
district or attendance area, as long as remaining in that school is in their best<br />
interest. <strong>The</strong> school is known as the school <strong>of</strong> origin, defined as the school<br />
in which the student was last enrolled or where the student attended when<br />
Strategies for Improving Educational Outcomes through School Stability 13
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