Homeless Education Program

CONTACT US

Homeless Liaison:

Colleen Flores

Director of Student Services

(630) 894-4010

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Education is a critical element in breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Education can open doors to possibilities and future dreams and accomplishments for children whose lives have been restricted and confined. For homeless children/youth, school should be a place they can count on for stability. The goal of District 20's Homeless Education Program is to ensure equal access to education and all programs, as well as preserve the dignity of all homeless children and youth as they enter the public school system and ensure that children do not feel isolated or stigmatized due to their homelessness.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) (McKinney-Vento Act) and the Illinois Education for Homeless Children Act (105 ILCS 45) are designed to address the challenges that homeless children and youths have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.

If you think you might qualify for McKinney-Vento services, please contact your school, or District 20 McKinney-Vento Liaison at (630) 894-4010 or cflores@esd20.org.

For more information please see below, or you can access the contact information for your local Regional McKinney-Vento Liaison at https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Subgrant-Liaison-Contact-List.pdf

How Can District 20 Help?

Advocate for homeless children and their families.
Help insure that homeless children in the district will not feel stigmatized due to their homeless status.
Provide school supplies, including backpacks to each child.
Coordinate efforts of district transportation and external resources to take students to and from school as needed.
Make all school activities, including before and after school programs accessible to each child.
Provide tutoring and/or accessibility to tutoring as needed.
Help parents complete enrollment forms and assist in obtaining school records, immunization records, birth certificates and other records as needed.
Coordinate efforts with local community agencies to provide basic needs and services for homeless students and families, including medical, vision and dental care on a limited basis.
Create awareness of, and promote sensitivity to the educational and legal rights of homeless children and youth in school personnel.

Who is Eligible for McKinney Vento Services?

McKinney-Vento eligible children are those who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime abode. In general, children or youth living in motels, transitional housing, shelters, the street, cars, abandoned buildings, and other inadequate accommodations may be considered eligible for McKinney-Vento services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following groups:

Doubled-up Children - living with another family due to lack of a permanent residence
Children in Shelters - including transitional living programs
Children Living in Motels - due to lack of alternative adequate living situation
Migratory Children - if accommodations are not fit for habitation
Runaways* - children who have left home and live in a shelter or inadequate accommodations, even if parents are willing to provide a home
Lockouts* - children whose parents or guardians will not permit them to live at home

*These two categories are Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY), child not in custody of their parent or court-ordered guardian and lack a fixed, regular and adequate abode.

What Are The Rights of McKinney-Vento Children?

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, as part of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures eligible children have the right to:

Choice of School - McKinney-Vento Eligible Children may attend their school of origin (school last attended or school attended when child lost permanent housing) or attend the school that serves their temporary living situation. Their Caregiver makes the choice.
Immediate Enrollment - even if medical or other records, birth certificates, transcripts, cannot be produced at the time of enrollment.
Transportation - if requested, transportation must be provided.
Preschool - priority consideration to preschool programs for eligible youngsters.
Free Lunch & Fee Waivers - categorically eligible for free lunch.
Supplemental Tutoring - if needed

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