Homeless/McKinney-Vento/Project Hope-Virginia Information

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Contact:

Susan Aylor
Executive Director of Special Education & Student Services

Project Hope - Virginia
Homeless Liaison
540-661-4550
saylor@ocss-va.org

The Orange County School Board is committed to educating homeless children and youth. Homeless children and youth are not stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless.

The school division coordinates the identification and provision of services to such students with relevant local social services agencies and other agencies and programs providing services to such students, and with other school divisions as may be necessary to resolve inter-divisional issues. Policy JECA: Admission of Homeless Children.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act ensures educational rights and protections for youth and children experiencing homelessness.
Project Hope-Virginia is Virginia’s Program for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.
VDOE Resource Document for Best Practices for Supports and Services to Students Who Experience Homelessness

What Families Need to Know

Your Child Can Enroll in School Even if You Have:

Uncertain Housing
A Temporary Address
No Permanent Physical Address

The federal McKinney-Vento Act guarantees school enrollment for anyone who, due to a lack of permanent housing, lives in inadequate or temporary settings, such as:

Emergency shelters or transitional housing
Motels, hotels, or campgrounds due to lack of an adequate alternative
Cars, parks, public places, bus or train stations, or abandoned buildings
Doubled up with relatives or friends due to loss of housing or economic hardship

First page of the PDF file: what-families-need-to-know-2021

Educational Rights for Children and Youth Lacking Fixed, Regular, and Adequate Housing

Families should know:

You do not need a permanent address to enroll your child in school.
Your child cannot be denied school enrollment when school records or other enrollment documentation are not immediately available.
Your child may be able to remain in the same school (school of origin) even if you move.
When in your child’s best interest, he or she has the right to request transportation assistance
.Schools must provide you with a written explanation if a placement dispute occurs, and you may appeal the school’s decision.
Your child automatically qualifies to participate in free breakfast and lunch programs.
Your child has the right to participate in extracurricular activities and all federal, state, or local programs for which he/she is eligible.
Youth not accompanied by a parent or guardian and lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing have these same rights.

At School, Ask About These Services

Basic school supplies
Before and after school programs
Contact information for community agencies and helpful resources
Credit recovery options
Gifted or talented programs
Homeless assistance programs
Mentoring programs
Preschool programs
Programs to help children learn English
Special education programs for students with disabilities, especially if the student has previously received special education services
Summer school programs
Tutoring programs

Schools give children and youth experiencing homelessness hope and a chance for a better future.

If you have questions, contact the school division’s local homeless education liaison or Project HOPE-Virginia.

Tips for Families Who Move Often

Agency Information List

The following contacts and websites may be useful resources to families and children experiencing homelessness.

Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, 800-552-7096
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 800-422-4453
Cover Virginia - Medicaid & FAMIS, 855-242-8282
Free Tax Assistance and Earned Income Tax Credit, 800-829-1040
Hill Burton Free and Reduced-Cost Hospital Care, 800-638-0742
National Center for Homeless Education, 800-308-2145
National Human Trafficking Resource Center, 888-373-7888
National Network for Youth: Human Trafficking, 202-783-7949
National Runaway Safeline, 800-786-2929
SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 800-552-3431
Social Security Administration Hotline, 800-772-1213
Virginia Department of Education: Human Trafficking
Virginia Housing Development Authority, 877-843-2123
Virginia Legal Aid, 866-534-5243
Virginia School Immunization Requirements, 800-568-1929
VA Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, 804-377-0335

McKinney-Vento Application

The purpose of this form is to identify and support McKinney-Vento/Project Hope eligible students. Please answer the questions to determine if you qualify for McKinney-Vento/Project Hope services. The questions will help identify services that could be provided to you and your family.

Application Form (English)

Application Form (Spanish)

Homeless children, youth, and unaccompanied youth have the right to:

Enroll in school without a permanent address
Immediate enrollment even if unable to provide records required for enrollment
Assistance obtaining enrollment and health records
May be able to remain in the school of origin, the last school attended before becoming homeless, if you move
Attend the school of residence, the school where temporarily living
Automatically qualify for free meals at school
Request transportation to and from school of origin