McKinney-Vento Act (homeless student information)

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that helps children and teens who don’t have a stable place to live. It makes sure they can get the same free and fair public education as other students. In Michigan, this law gives important protections to students without a fixed, regular, or safe place to stay.

Who Does McKinney-Vento Help?

This law helps students who:

• Live in shelters, motels, campgrounds, or cars.
• Share housing with others because their family is struggling financially.
• Stay in places not meant for sleeping, like garages or basements.
• Don’t have a parent or guardian taking care of them (unaccompanied youth).

What Are Their Rights?

Students who qualify under McKinney-Vento have these rights:

1. Enroll Right Away
   They can start school immediately, even if they don’t have papers like proof of residency, immunization records, or previous school records.

2. Stay at Their School
   They can keep going to the same school they were at before losing housing, if it’s best for them.

3. Get Transportation
   The school will help with transportation to their original school, if needed.

4. Free School Meals
   They can get free meals at school without filling out an application.

5. Extra Help
   They can get tutoring, counseling, and other support to help them succeed in school.

6. Join School Activities
   They can participate fully in sports, clubs, and other school programs.

How We Help

Zeeland Public Schools is here to support students and families experiencing homelessness. Our McKinney-Vento liaison works to make sure every student has the tools and resources to do their best in school.

Who to Contact

McKinney-Vento Liaison
Lana Kamer
lkamer@zps.org
616.748.2538

For more details, visit the Michigan Department of Education’s McKinney-Vento Page.