Every Child Has the Right to an Education
The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), ensures that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth.
Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment based on homelessness alone.
Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are considered homeless. If, due to a loss of housing, a child must live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground, on the street, in abandoned buildings, or doubled-up with relatives or friends, then he/she is eligible to receive services provided under the McKinney-Vento Act.
The SJCSD A.S.S.I.S.T. Program:
- Advocates for homeless children and their families.
- Helps insure that homeless children in the district will not feel stigmatized due to their homeless
status. - Provides school supplies to each child.
- Coordinates efforts with transportation (in and out of district) to provide transportation to and
from school as needed. - Makes all school activities, including before and after school programs accessible to each child.
- Provides tutoring and/or accessibility to tutoring as needed.
- Helps parents complete enrollment forms and assist in obtaining school records, immunization
records, birth certificates and other records as needed. - Coordinates 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. - Creates awareness of, and promote sensitivity to the educational and legal rights of homeless
children and youth in school personnel.
Learn more about our school district’s Homeless Students Policy.
Resources and Links
- National Center for Homeless Education
- National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929
- St. Francis House Shelter
- St. Johns County Homeless Coalition
