Corning Union Elementary School District

Homeless Education Program

Corning Union Elementary School District is dedicated to supporting families who are experiencing housing instability. We will assist you in accessing resources and eliminating barriers necessary for your child to be successful in school.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal legislation that ensures the educational rights and protections of children and youth experiencing homelessness. It requires all local educational agencies (LEAs) to ensure that homeless students have access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschools, as provided to other children and youth.

Definition of Homelessness

The McKinney-Vento Act defines the term "homeless children and youths" as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

You may be considered homeless if you are:

Temporarily staying with other people, often called “doubled up", because you cannot afford to live alone. This can include sharing another person’s house, such as a friend or relative, because you lost your housing or don't have another safe place to go.
Staying in emergency housing, like emergency or transitional shelters. This can include domestic violence shelters, trailers provided by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), housing paid for by programs such as Rapid Re-Housing, transitional living facilities, etc.
Staying in a hotel/motel, cars, parks or any public or private places not designed for humans to live in. This can include camping grounds, cars, or any place outside/not meant for human habitation (abandoned buildings, bus or train station).
Staying in substandard housing or housing with inadequate space for the number of occupants.

Additional Definition:
If you are not living with your parent or guardian, you may be considered an Unaccompanied Youth.

McKinney Vento Declaration English

McKinney Vento Declaration Spanish

McKinney Vento Shared Residence Form English

McKinney Vento Shared Residence Form Spanish

Unaccompanied Youth

Unaccompanied Youth are young people experiencing homelessness who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act and state law, Unaccompanied Youth have the right to immediate enrollment without proof of guardianship.

The McKinney-Vento Act extends the same rights to students experiencing homelessness on their own as with their parent or guardian.

Students Rights and School Selection

Your children have rights and protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act and state law.

They have the right to:

Receive a free, appropriate public education.
Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to each student's needs.
Automatically qualify for school nutrition programs.
Receive transportation to and from school of origin, if requested.
Potential credit reduction for graduation requirements.
Have access to school supplies and other items at no cost.
Get tutoring and other academic support.

Enrollment

You are guaranteed enrollment in school by the federal McKinney-Vento Act and California state law if you live:

In a house or apartment with more than one family due to loss of housing or economic hardship
With friends or family because you are a runaway or an unaccompanied youth
In substandard housing (without electricity, water, or heat)
In a shelter (family, domestic violence or youth shelter or transitional living program)
In a motel, hotel, or weekly rate housing
In an abandoned building, in a car, at a campground, or on the streets

You can enroll in school immediately even without the documents normally required for enrollment such as:

Proof of residency
Immunization records or other required health records
School records
Legal guardianship papers
Declaration for Mission Enrollment Documentation Form

Your child may:

Participate fully in all school activities and programs for which he/she is eligible
Receive transportation to and from the school of origin if you request it
Continue to attend the school in which he/she was last enrolled even if you have moved away from that school's attendance area
Qualify automatically for school nutrition programs

Your responsibilities are to:

Make sure your child gets to school on time and ready to learn
Stay informed of school rules, regulations, and activities
Contact the homeless liaison for assistance in removing barriers to your child's education
Attend parent/teacher conferences, Back-to-School Nights, and other school-related activities.