Homeless Education Program (McKinney Vento) & Unaccompanied Youth

If you are a family in transition or homeless or an unaccompanied youth not in the physical custody of a parent/guardian, you may have rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act At any given moment families may experience a situation that disrupts their housing situation.  If you have lost your housing due to a family crisis, unemployment, an eviction or financial issues then you may be eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act. The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law which protects student’s rights experiencing homelessness or loss of adequate housing. You may be eligible for services if you are:

• Temporarily sharing housing with another family due to loss of housing or financial hardship.
• In a motel or hotel due to a lack of adequate accommodations.
• In a car, park, campground, public space, abandoned building or substandard housing.
• In an emergency or transitional shelter.

If you feel that you may be eligible under the McKinney-Vento Act, please complete the McKinney-Vento packet.  The packet can be obtained at the front offices of Desert Heights Charter School or Desert Heights Preparatory Academy, or via the forms tab on this page. Once completed you may return to one of the offices. McKinney Vento eligibility is determined solely by the District Homeless Education Liaison on a case by case basis.  Desert Heights Charter Schools will ensure that every McKinney-Vento eligible student has access to the same educational services and opportunities as students who are not homeless or in transition.

McKinney-Vento eligible students may qualify for:

• Reduced/Free school meals
• Fee waivers
• Transportation services
• Credit recovery and academic assistance
• School supplies, if funding allows
• Personal supplies, if funding allows
• Community resources

Dispute Resolution Process:

If you are determined ineligible for any McKinney-Vento service and you disagree with the decision of the District Homeless Education Liaison, you may appeal the decision and file your appeal with the Arizona Department of Education.  The District Homeless Education Liaison will provide you information on the appeal process in writing and can assist you with this process, by request. The Arizona Department of Education will make a decision and the decision will be final