Students Experiencing Homelessness (McKinney-Vento)

Santa Barbara Unified School District is committed to ensuring that students experiencing homelessness have access to education and other services necessary for them to meet the same challenging academic standards as other students.

The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homelessness

In accordance with state and federal law, SB Unified defines homeless children and youth as:

(A) individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (within the meaning of section 103(a)(1)); and

(B)

(i) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;* 

(ii) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (within the meaning of section 103(a)(2)(C)); 

(iii) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and 

(iv) migratory children (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

McKinney-Vento Family Rights

• Attend the last school of enrollment (school of origin), if feasible, or attend the school in the area where the family is temporarily residing
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin if you request it.
• If the family gains permanent housing, the student can remain at the current school for the duration of that academic year. 
• Schools must immediately enroll homeless students, regardless of the lack of: academic records, proof of residence; immunization records, etc.  The enrolling school shall immediately contact the last school of attendance to obtain missing records.
• May be exempt from having to meet district graduation requirements and instead, can earn a diploma by meeting California state minimum graduation requirements (130)
• Participate fully in all school activities and programs for which he/she is eligible.

For questions about enrolling in school or for assistance with school enrollment, contact:
Your local school district homeless liaison:	Your county homeless liaison:	Your homeless state coordinator:
Dr. Marianne Hew Assistant Superintendent of Student & Family Services 805-963-4338 x 6262 mhew@sbunified.org	Amy Willis Director, Transitional Youth Services Telephone: 805-964-4710 x 4415 Cell: 805-698-5098 swillis@sbcop.org	Leanne Wheeler State Coordinator California Department of Education 1430 N Street, Suite 6408 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 1-866-856-8214