PUBLIC NOTICE
Vermont's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program ensures that students experiencing who are unhoused or living in temporary housing have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education provided to other Vermont children, with the opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards. The EHCY program is authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, and seeks to identify and address the challenges that children and youth who are unhoused or living in temporary housing may face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.
A student who lives in any of the following situations is considered *unhoused or living in temporary housing under the McKinney-Vento Act:
This includes unaccompanied youth who do not have a fixed, adequate, and regular nighttime residence. Unaccompanied youth are students not in the physical custody of their parent or legal guardian; this includes young people who
There is no age limit for unaccompanied youth, but these students are most often in their teens.
Student Rights Under the McKinney-Vento Act, a student who is unhoused or living in temporary housing has the right to:
Get Help
FNESU McKinney-Vento Coordinator: Michelle Irish
802-933-1936
michelle.irish@fnesu.org
Every school has a school-based McKinney-Vento Liaison. Reach out to your school principal, counselor or school registrar to get help.
The school based liaison can help you with:
Vermont's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program ensures that students experiencing who are unhoused or living in temporary housing have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education provided to other Vermont children, with the opportunity to meet the same challenging State academic standards. The EHCY program is authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, and seeks to identify and address the challenges that children and youth who are unhoused or living in temporary housing may face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.
A student who lives in any of the following situations is considered *unhoused or living in temporary housing under the McKinney-Vento Act:
- Doubled up (with friends or relatives because they cannot find or afford housing)
- A shelter or transitional shelter,
- A hotel/motel,
- A car, bus or train,
- A park or public place, or
- An abandoned building
This includes unaccompanied youth who do not have a fixed, adequate, and regular nighttime residence. Unaccompanied youth are students not in the physical custody of their parent or legal guardian; this includes young people who
- have run away from home,
- have been kicked out of their homes, or
- have been abandoned by parents.
There is no age limit for unaccompanied youth, but these students are most often in their teens.
Student Rights Under the McKinney-Vento Act, a student who is unhoused or living in temporary housing has the right to:
- A free public education
- To stay in their current school or choose to attend a zoned school
- Not be denied immediate school enrollment because of their temporary housing status or they lack enrollment documentation
- Transportation services to and from school
- Continue to receive special education services regardless of school transfer Services comparable to those offered to other students
Get Help
FNESU McKinney-Vento Coordinator: Michelle Irish
802-933-1936
michelle.irish@fnesu.org
Every school has a school-based McKinney-Vento Liaison. Reach out to your school principal, counselor or school registrar to get help.
The school based liaison can help you with:
- Enrolling your child in school*
- Understanding your transportation options
- Finding resources to support your child's education
Anyone can make a referral: FNESU McKinney-Vento Referral Form