McKinney-Vento Homeless Program

McKinney-Vento Act

Summary of the McKinney-Vento Act

Contact Us

  • Paulus Administration Center

    1309 Ferry St. SE Salem, OR 97301

  • Phone

    503-391-4060

  • Hours

    M-F 8am-4:30pm

  • Email Format

    lastname_firstname @ salkeiz.k12.or.us

Our Team

  • Wendy Roberts

    Coordinator of Federal Programs

  • Julie Conn-Johnson

    Program Associate and District Liaison

  • Tiffany Tombleson

    Administrative Secretary

  • Lisette Cervantes Almonte

    Student Advocate – McKay

  • Aurora Ellison

    Student Advocate – South

  • Billy Niebla

    Student Advocate – North

  • Jordan Panther

    Student Advocate – West/Alternative Education/Sprague

  • Kelly Violette

    Student Advocate – McNary

  • Iris Gomora Urquiza

    Student Advocate – Graduation

  • Shavon Leeds

    Student Advocate – Attendance/Shelters

About Us

We provide educational opportunities that enable students without a home, and unaccompanied youth, to achieve academic success. Our mission 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.

Program Information

Homeless Definition: Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as defined below.

  • 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.

Program 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

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

  • 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 public 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

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 Salem-Keizer 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

ISS-W023 – MVP Youth Resources (English)

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized in January 2002, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Learn more about the McKinney-Vento Act here

Additional Resources

MVP Brochure

ISS-W018 McKinney-Vento Brochure (English)
ISS-W018 MVP Brochure (Spanish)
ISS-W018 MVP Brochure (Russian)
ISS-W018 Step Brochure (Chuukese)
ISS-W018 Step Brochure (Marshallese)

Youth Resources

ISS-W023 MVP Youth Resources (English)
ISS-W023 MVP Youth Resources (Spanish)
ISS-W023 MVP Youth Resources (Russian)
ISS-W023MVP Youth Resources (Chuukese)

Community Resources

ISS-W022 MVP Community Resources (English)
ISS-W022 MVP Community Resources (Spanish)
ISS-W022 MVP Community Resources (Russian)
ISS-W022 MVP Community Resources (Chuukese)

General Information

ISS-W047 Unaccompanied Youth Flowchart (English)
Homelessness At A Glance
Tips for Supporting Homeless Children and Youths