Homeless Student Information

The federal law includes the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program that entitles children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence to a free, appropriate education and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance, and success in school. The McKinney-Vento Program meets the needs of homeless students attending East Carolina University Community School by addressing academic challenges and family issues affecting their success in school.

Examples of living situations that may qualify include, but are not limited to:

  • Living with a friend, relative or other person/family because of a loss of housing
  • Staying in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing or fleeing domestic violence
  • Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or domestic violence shelter
  • Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building or bus station
  • Living temporarily in substandard housing
  • Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home
  • Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter; run away youth
  • Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home

McKinney-Vento Definition of Homelessness

Eligible children have the right to:

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education.
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required  for enrollment.
  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference.
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

Requesting Services

  • Services provided include immediate enrollment, school selection promoting stability, nutrition, and academic support. McKinney-Vento services are only provided for the duration of a school year and do not automatically renew. ECU Community School’s School Social Workers assess for eligibility. To obtain more information about services provided and how to access services, please contact the School Social Worker at ECU Community School.

PCS Homeless Student Liaison