McKinney-Vento Act
What You Need To Know
By Jimmy Pawola
Regional McKinney-Vento Liaison ROE Equal Chance Program
Kane County Regional Office of Education
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures children and youth experiencing housing insecurity have equal access to education. The law was originally passed in 1987 and most recently reauthorized in December 2015 with the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The main purpose of this law is to remove barriers to education for students who are homeless so they can succeed in school. Having a working knowledge of this law is important for school business officials to effectively serve McKinney-Vento eligible students within their respective school districts. This knowledge is also crucial to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.