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Special Barriers
McKinney-Vento Homeless Program

Homeless children and youth often have problems enrolling and participating in school as a result of their living situation. A federal act was put in place to ensure the educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. 

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In compliance with federal law (McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 ‐Pub. L. 100‐77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, 42 U.S.C. § 11301 et seq.), it is the policy of  Alexander City Schools to provide free and appropriate education for all children.  Homeless children and youth must be given full opportunity to meet state and local academic achievement standards without barriers.

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Alexander City Schools will ensure homeless children and youth are free from discrimination, segregation, and harassment because of their homeless status.

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The major tenets of the McKinney-Vento Act are:

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  • Immediate school access (remove of barriers to enrollment) 

  • School stability 

  • Support for academic success 

  • Child-centered, best interest decision making 

  • Critical role of the local homeless education liaison

Contact Information

Family and Community Engagement

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375 Lee Street

Alexander City, AL 35010

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Office:  256-234-8600

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Chris Adkins

Family and Community Engagement Facilitator

chris.adkins@acsk12.net

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Alice Owens

Federal Programs Coordinator

aowens@acsk12.net 

(Homeless & EL Learners)

DEFINITION OF THE TERM “HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH”

The term “homeless children and youth” is defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. The law also provides several examples of situations that meet the definition. The examples include children and youth: 

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  • Sharing housing of others, with or without their parents, due to loss of housing (doubled up);

  • Living in motel, hotel, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate housing; 

  • Living in emergency or transitional shelters; 

  • Living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; 

  • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar places; 

  • Unaccompanied youth includes youth, not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian; 

  • Living in a situation described in the above circumstances and who are migratory. 

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