McKinney-Vento Services

STAY (School & Transition Assistance for Youngster) program is Lynwood Unified School District’s effort to serve students under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures that homeless children and youth, including preschoolers have equal access to the same free, appropriate educational programs as other children and youth. Law mandates the elimination of educational barriers facing homeless children and youth, to increase school stability and protect students from discrimination. Under this legislation, homeless children and youth are entitled to have access to the same educational experience and resources as all students.  Homeless students have the right to:

• Go to school, no matter where they live now or how long they have lived there.
• Start school immediately, even if they are missing records and documents normally required for enrollment
• Attend the neighborhood school closest to where they currently live, or, attend their school of origin. School of origin is the school the child attended when permanently houses or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled.
• Receive transportation to and from their original school (school of origin), whenever feasible.
• Participate fully in all school activities, while their new school arranges for records transfers.
• Receive the same programs and services as their schoolmates, and be treated with the same respect and attention as their classmates. It is against federal law to separate students based on their living conditions. And it harms the educational process that is our goal to fulfill.

Who is Homeless?

The federal government's legal definition of homelessness based on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is anyone who is ...

• Lacking a regular, fixed and adequate nighttime residence:
• "Temporarily doubled up" with family or friends due to a loss of housing and economic hardship
• Living in a shelter, hotel, or motel
• Living in a public place not designated for sleeping (cars, parks, abandoned buildings)
• A child who is not in the physical custody of their parent or legal guardian
• A child or youth abandoned in a hospital
• A migrant child who qualifies under any of the above

If you are living in LUSD boundaries or were attending LUSD schools and are in any of the following situations you may be eligible for McKinney Vento support services.  Please contact the LUSD Homeless Liaison for more information.