McKinney-Vento

Every Child Has a Right to an Education

Homeless children and youth must have equal access to educational and other The McKinney-
Vento Program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth face in
enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this program, the SCDE must ensure that
each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education,
including a public preschool education, as other children and youth.

Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and other services that they
need to enable them to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards
to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the
mainstream school environment based solely on the fact that they are experiencing
homelessness.

Every school district is required to have a trained, local homeless education liaison to identify
and assist families with enrolling and fully participating in school. If you need assistance, please
contact your School Social Worker.

If you need additional assistance, you may contact the district’s McKinney-Vento Liaison
Jennifer Felkel, LMSW, MPH via email at jfelkel@lexrich5.org or by phone at 803-476-8238.

Part A McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Education for Homeless Children and Youths

Local Homeless Education Liaisons: Understanding Their Role