Parents & Students
An Overview of McKinney-Vento

ACT Fee Waivers: The ACT webpage describes the steps that economically disadvantaged high school juniors or seniors should follow to receive a fee waiver for taking the ACT college entrance exam.

When a dispute arises about whether a student should be considered homeless or where the student should go to school, the McKinney-Vento liaison must help the parent or youth file an appeal with the Commissioner of the State Education Department using this form.

This document provides a list of examples of evidence that families may include in an appeal in order to show that the student is homeless under McKinney-Vento.

Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCRRs) provide services to parents and day care providers in every county of New York State.

If you are looking for child care, the CCRR in your county is a great place to start.

Community Action Agency to get help with education, employment, and family support services

NYS Homes and Community Renewal to get information about affordable housing, including the Rent Info Line (718) 739-6400 to get information and help for tenants of rent controlled and rent stabilized apartments.

If a family or student in temporary housing and their school district disagree about a student's McKinney-Vento eligibility for enrollment, school selection options, or transportation, the school district may challenge the student's eligibility under McKinney-Vento. Read about the steps to take to resolve these situations.

EarlyLearn NYC – Childcare and Head Start programs provide early care and education to children and NYC who meet eligibility criteria.

HRA Infoline (718) 557-1399 to get information about a One-Shot Deal (emergency grant to help people pay for an expense because of an unexpected situation)

Head Start Center Locator can be used by families nationwide.

HomeBase to get eviction prevention and housing search help

Housing Court Answers or call (212) 962-4795 to get help with eviction prevention and other housing issues

Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to apply for low- and moderate-income housing

In July 2015, the Commissioner’s Regulations governing enrollment of students in public school were amended to ensure that all students, and in particular unaccompanied youth, have timely access to school. The Regulations require that school districts accept a broader range of documents to establish residency and establish timelines for making residency determinations. The New York State Education Department produced brochures in multiple languages that districts can provide to parents so that they better understand the enrollment process. The brochure is currently available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian-Creole, Karen, Nepali, Russian, and Urdu.

LawHelp.org to find legal services or eviction prevention services (for example, help paying back rent, help with an eviction case in court, etc.)

NYS-TEACHS is a technical assistance center and cannot offer legal advice. You may contact the following agencies for legal advice and/or assistance related to the McKinney Vento dispute process.

Local Department of Social Services to get shelter and housing referrals

This document summarizes some of the McKinney-Vento Act’s core provisions.

NYC Housing Connect to find and apply for affordable housing, including housing lotteries

NYHousingSearch to find affordable homes and apartments in NY State

NYHousingSearch to find affordable homes and apartments in NY State

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to apply for public housing public housing

These organizations provide information and trainings to parents about special education issues.

Is your housing uncertain? This poster and brochure provide information about the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness.

Information about receiving fee waivers for SAT and ACT.

A helpful guide from the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE). If you and your family are experiencing homelessness, you may be struggling to enroll and keep your children in school. If you have a child with special needs, you may have even more challenges to make sure your child receives the help he or she needs.

This document was created by the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) to provide information to parents about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how it can help students in temporary housing with special needs.

This Tip Sheet explains school selection, transportation, and services for students experiencing homelessness.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. This guide is designed to help students and families navigate the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to get financial aid for college. The guide will be particularly useful for students who are among the first in their family to go to college or are new to the country.