The Tale:
McKinney-Vento liaisons sometimes call the TEACHS Helpline with a challenging scenario. A family/student comes into the district office and says that they are in temporary housing. An administrator—such as a principal or superintendent—or the registrar is sure that the family/student is actually in permanent housing. Someone in the family may have made false statements regarding their living situation in the past to keep their children in their current school, or there may be factual or perceived evidence that contradicts what the family/student claims. The administrator and the registrar may be frustrated by what they see as fraudulent behavior and may want to disenroll the student. The liaison herself is unsure if she believes the family’s/student’s account of their living situation, but she knows that students are supposed to be enrolled immediately. She enrolls the student despite her reservations.
Questions:
A McKinney-Vento liaison designates a student McKinney-Vento eligible even though she and/or district administrators believe the student might actually be in permanent housing. What is the next step to investigate the student’s living situation?
If the district decides to conduct an investigation, are there guidelines for how to conduct the investigation?
What if the investigation reveals that the family is in permanent housing?
Resources:
Answers
1. A McKinney-Vento liaison designates a student McKinney-Vento eligible even though she and/or district administrators believe the student might actually be in permanent housing. What is the next step to investigate the student’s living situation?
It is important to remember that schools must enroll (or maintain enrollment of) students seeking McKinney-Vento eligibility immediately, even if they are unable to provide paperwork normally required for enrollment, including proof of residency [42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(C)(i)(I)]. It is only after enrollment and the provision of transportation, if needed, that a district can make the decision to conduct an investigation to determine whether the housing situation is temporary or permanent. The NCHE brief, Confirming Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights and Services has helpful information to assist in making an eligibility determination.
2. If the district decides to conduct an investigation, are there guidelines for how to conduct the investigation?
3. What if the investigation reveals that the family is in permanent housing?