• WCSD STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

    Eligible school-age children/youth attain certain rights and protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act through the Washoe County School District program, Children in Transition (CIT).

    McKinney-Vento Basics

    The McKinney-Vento Act provides rights and services for children and youth experiencing homelessness, which includes those who are: sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; staying in motels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to the lack of an adequate alternative; staying in shelters or transititonal houisng; or sleeping in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or similar settings. McKinney-Vento Act-Quick Reference

    Key Duties of the WCSD Homeless Liaisons

    • Ensuring that homeless children and youth are identified and enrolled in school and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school. 
    • Identifying students experiencing homelessness.
    • Participating in professional development and other technical assistance.
    • Ensuring school personnel receive professional development and other support. 
    • Support unaccompanied homeless youth and ensure that they are informed of their educational rights. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Quick Reference

    Eligible Student Rights

    • Receive a free public education
    • Enrollment in the student's zoned area school immediately, even if lacking documentation such as birth certificate, immunizations and /or immunization records, and/or proof of address. McKinney-Vento Enrollment Implementation
    • Continued enrollment at the student's school of origin, the school the student attended when last permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled, through the duration of homelessness and through the end of the academic year in which a student obtains permanent housing, including receiving feeder schools at the next grade level. *
    • Receive transportation resources to and from the school of origin if requested, including until the end of the academic year if/when a student obtains permanent housing. Additionally, urgent temporary transportation is available through CIT staff when requested. *
    • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students according to individual needs.
    • Receive free school meals provided by the student's school.

    CIT Professional Development PowerPoint

    *CIT has access to help families with urgent temporary transportation to ensure students attend school regularly.  If you have a student in need of help getting to school, please contact CIT's Transportation Liaison, Nestor Gonzalez Roman, nestor.gonzalezroman@washoeschools.net or 775-353-6936.

    *If a parent/legal guardian/unaccompanied homeless youth does not agree with a best interest determination decision made by the school district, the district must provide the parent/legal guardian/ unaccompanied homeless youth with a written explanation of its position and inform them of their right to appeal the decision. Homeless Education Dispute Form