Homelessness
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act defines homeless individuals as anyone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.  This includes students who are
  • living in shelters (find out more about this)
  • living in campgrounds, parks, cars or public buildings (find out more about this)
  • doubled up with friends or relatives due to economic hardship, loss of
     housing or a similar reason (find out more about this)
  • abandoned in a hospital
  • "unaccompanied youth" (find out more about this)
  • awaiting foster care

The intent of the McKinney-Vento Act is to minimize the amount of time that homeless children and youth are out of school. To address the many ways homelessness impacts learning, the law
  • strongly encourages children to remain in the last school attended if
    possible. However, since that may not always be possible, the law ensures
    immediate enrollment of homeless students in any school housed children
    in the area are eligible to attend
  • provides for transportation to get to and from school until the child is
    permanently housed (up to one hour, one way - 45 minutes for preschool
    and kindergarten students) 
  • allows for immediate enrollment with or without school and medical   
    records
  • guarantees equal access by homeless students to all school courses,
    events, services and activities
  • mandates the designation of a homeless educational liaison in every district

If you are homeless, resources are available to help you 
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
Links to more resources are available at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Seconday Education - McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Resources

       Contact Jennifer Alexander, Homeless Education Liaison
                 for Westfield Public Schools at 413-572-6397
                     or j.alexander@schoolsofwestfield.org