McKinney-Vento Program Information

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The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized in 2015, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Learn more

McKinny-Vento Liaison

Maricela Fernandez

503-982-4291
mfernandez@woodburnsd.org

Welcome Center

1390 Meridian Drive, Woodburn, OR 97071

Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM

Resources

Woodburn School District offers educational opportunities that enable students that are homeless, unhoused, without a home, and unaccompanied to achieve academic success. Our goal is to connect families with community resources that support school and family stability. Support may include transportation, school supplies, access to academic support, and referrals to community resources.

Information

Definition

Homeless Definition: Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as:

Doubled-up, couch surfing, sharing housing with family or friends due to economic hardship, or similar reason
Living in an emergency or transitional shelter
Living in a motel/hotel, vehicles, parks, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
Living in abandoned buildings or substandard housing with no heat, electricity, water, or floors

Unaccompanied Youth Definition: Youth not in physical custody of a parent or guardian due to abandonment by their family, being kicked out, or running away from home and living in any of the situations described above.

Eligibility: Children and youth, unaccompanied youth, and migrant students who lack a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence as defined above.

Indicators of Possible Homelessness:

Chronic hunger and/or tiredness
Enrollment at many different schools
Inconsistent school attendance or tardiness
Grooming and personal hygiene issues
Consistently comes to school without homework, books, supplies, or signed papers
Incompatible clothing for the current season or incorrectly sized clothing
Changes in behavior, characterized by shyness, withdrawal, nervousness, anger, or aggression
Mentions staying with family, friends, or not sure where they are staying on future nights

Rights

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, you have the right to

Privacy and confidentiality regarding your living situation
An advocate that can help you with transportation, school supplies, academic support, and community resource information
Enroll and attend classes immediately even if unable to provide proof of residency, immunization records, or other documents
Attend the neighborhood school or the school of origin (the school the student attended when permanently housed or last enrolled)
Attend your school of origin until the end of the school year, even if you become housed or move out of district, if feasible
Receive written explanation and appeal if educational placement is denied
Attend school while a dispute resolution or disagreement is resolved
Receive transportation to and from your school or origin
Access school services needed such as Title I-A, Special Education, Migrant Education, ELL Services, and Student Access & Advancement (TAG) services
Participate in extracurricular activities
Free and reduced school meals
Attend district pre-school programs

Services

Ensure that homeless students are identified, enrolled, and attending school
Offer assistance with alternative educational placements and enrollment
Educational advocacy and access to special programs (IEP, TAG, ELL)
Monitor grades and attendance
Access to academic support (tutoring, credit recovery, graduation support)
Parental support at school meetings (discipline, diversion)
Assist in obtaining educational records
Provide school supplies and backpacks to students, as available
Transportation via school bus or other transportation
Resolve enrollment and/or transportation disputes
Disseminate public notice of the educational rights of students in homeless situations
Refer students and families to community resources and programs

Resources

If you need assistance in any of the following areas, please visit the link below for an extensive list of resources available to you in the Woodburn area. Additional translations can be found below under “Additional Resources”.

Addiction/Mental Health
Baby/Family
Education
Emergency Assistance (Crisis)
Employment
Food/Clothing
Health
Housing
Legal
Shelters
Social Services
Meals