Students Experiencing Homelessness

  • Homelessness is often thought of as something that only happens to people with particular traits, habits, or economic standing, but it impacts people from all backgrounds. For example, consider the following: lack of affordable housing, job loss, serious illness/accident, natural disaster, significant life changes, child and youth abuse and domestic violence are some reasons for loss of housing.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

  • In January of 2002, Congress authorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to help people experiencing homelessness. The federal law includes the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program that entitles children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence to free, appropriate education. It also requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance and success in school. The McKinney-Vento Program meets the needs of homeless students attending Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools by addressing academic challenges and family issues affecting their success in school.

    Examples of living situations that may qualify include, but are not limited to:

    • Living with a friend, relative or other people/family because of a loss of housing
    • Staying in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing, fleeing domestic violence, or natural disaster
    • Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or domestic violence shelter
    • Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building or bus station
    • Living temporarily in substandard housing
    • Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home
    • Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter; runaway youth
    • Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home

     

  • Who is Eligible?

  • Enrollment

  • Access to Programs & Services

  • School Selection

  • Special Education Assignments

  • Transportation

  • Dispute Process

  • Requesting Services

Contact Us

Information

  • Know your rights

    CMS Mckinney-Vento Data

    Number of CMS Students Identified

    • 2020-2021 - 3,011
    • 2021-2022 - 4,206
    • 2022-2023 - 4,815
    • 2023-2024 - 5,447