Laramie County School District #1

Children and Youth in Transitional Situations (Homeless)

The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) is authorized under Title IX-A of the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA). This is also known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  This act is designed to address the problems that children and youth in transition face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.

It is the policy of the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) and Laramie County School District #1 to view children and youth as individuals.  Therefore, we will not refer to children as homeless; we will instead use the term “children and youths in transition.”  Under federal law, children and youths in transition must have access to appropriate public education, including preschool education when applicable, must be able to fully participate in school and extracurricular activities, and must have access to educational, transportation and other services that they need to assist them in meeting the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. Our schools will ensure that children and youths in transition are not stigmatized or segregated and are free from discrimination and harassment. In addition, children and youths in transition may not be separated from the mainstream school environment based solely on the fact that they are experiencing homelessness.

A student and their family may be considered “in transition” if:

• They lack adequate shelter
• Are living in a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
• Are living in a car, park, abandoned building or bus or train station
• Are living as “doubled up” with other people due to the loss of housing or economic hardship.

School-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the Federal McKinney-Vento Act.

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 the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of you and your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision
• 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.

If you believe your child may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available.  There may also be supports available for your preschool age children.