Homeless Students

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act (“McKinney-Vento”) is a federal law that protects the educational rights of homeless students by eliminating barriers to the enrollment, retention and success of homeless students; and ensuring they receive equal access to the same free appropriate public education as is provided other students.

Definition of Homeless

Under McKinney-Vento, homeless children and youth include individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including but not limited to, those who are:

• Sharing the housing of others (known as doubling up) due to loss of housing or economic hardship;
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds,
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters;
• Abandoned in hospitals;
• Living in a nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation;
• Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

McKinney-Vento also recognizes unaccompanied youth who are homeless. Under McKinney-Vento, an unaccompanied youth is a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian.

Student Rights

Under McKinney-Vento, students experiencing homelessness have the right to:

• Immediate enrollment, even if the child or youth is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, medical records, or proof of residency;
• Remain in the school of origin, if in the student’s best interest;
• Receive transportation; and
• Receive services comparable to services offered to other students in the District.

For more information concerning education for homeless students, or to dispute any determination regarding a student’s eligibility, enrollment, school placement or transportation, contact Ritenour’s Homeless Coordinator:

Julie Hahn
Administrator for Student Services
2420 Woodson Road
St. Louis, MO 63114, or (314) 493-6070