Who is McKinney-Vento Eligible?

Title X, Part C of the No Child Left Behind Act defines homelessness as living in the following places due to a lack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence:

  • In an emergency or transitional shelter
  • In a motel, hotel, or campground
  • In a car, park, public place, bus or train station, or abandoned building
  • Doubled up with relatives or friends
  • In the above conditions and is a migratory child or youth

This definition of homelessness applies to children and youth with:

  • Housing insecurity
  • A temporary living situation
  • No permanent physical address

Children and youth living in these settings meet criteria for the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness and have special educational rights.