The Fulton County Schools Homeless/McKinney Vento Program assists children and youth under the McKinney Vento Act in homeless situations to gain access to a free and appropriate public education. This may include assistance with identification, enrollment, records, assuring referrals are made to appropriate services for immunizations and coordinating services between state and local service providers.

McKinney-Vento Act

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal act designed to keep homeless students in school. This law addresses the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.

If the child:

lives in a shelter

shares housing with relatives or others due to loss of housing or cannot afford housing

lives in a campground, car, abandoned building, or other inadequate shelter

does not have a permanent address and/or permanent housing

lives on the street

lives in temporary foster care

if they are an unaccompanied youth

The child has the right to:

Immediately enroll and attend school without having health and school records with you

enroll in school where they are living or the school attended when permanently housed... if in the child's best interest

receive transportation to and from school of origin

participate in school related activities and receive other needed services

utilize dispute resolution process if you have a grievance

***Enrollment in the McKinney Vento Program is valid from the time the McKinney Vento form is completed and turned in through the end of the school year.

***McKinney Vento status is re-verified each school year***

For more information on how we can be of assistance to your child's enrollment and school needs, please contact the Local Liaison at (470) 254-0470.

You can also reach out to your school social worker for help.

DID YOU KNOW???     

Did you know that 1,360,747 homeless students were reported enrolled by U.S. public schools in the 2013-2014 school year? Right here in Fulton County Schools over 1500 homeless students were identified last school year and so far this year, we have identified over 950 homeless students in our schools.  Were you aware that 2/3 of the adults experiencing homelessness have not received a high school diploma or completed a GED?

On a regular basis, children and youth report that school is a home to them – a place where they see the same faces, sit in the same seat, and can put their hearts and minds into pursuits that ease their daily troubles. In school, students gain the skills and support needed to avoid poverty and homelessness as adults.

Education is the key to preventing homelessness for today's children and youth. They absolutely need and deserve educational opportunities commensurate to those of their housed peers.

Please help us spread awareness about the issues of homelessness in our community and refer any students that you think may be experiencing homelessness to your school's social worker or the Homeless Liaison's office at 470-254-0470.