You may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. The Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program exists to help students who experience homelessness by offering a wide variety of services to help during this time of change and stress.

If you live in any of the following situations, you may qualify:

• A shelter

• A motel or campground due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodation

• A car, park, abandoned building, bus, or train station

• Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

As an eligible student, you have the right to:

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.

• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents are normally required for enrollment.

• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.

• Enroll in the local school or continue attending your school of origin (the school you attended when permanently housed or the school in which you were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible.

(If the school district believes that the school selected is not in your best interest, the district will provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.)

• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.

• Receive educational services comparable to those provided for other students, according to your needs as a student.

Examples of Services Available to Homeless Students:

• Blazer Integrated Learning

• Summer Learning Program

• ESAP/SAP Programs

• Free Lunch Program

• Credit Recovery

• Transportation

Unenrolled homeless youth living in the community may be eligible for services and should contact Stephanie Kotsakis, District Social Worker, at 610.582.6140, x1147.

• Berks County Coalition to End Homelessness

• Family Promise

• Mary’s Shelter

• Opportunity House

• Pennsylvania Department of Education: Education for Homeless Youth