Homelessness does not mean that children do not have access to quality education. Students who are experiencing homelessness will be immediately enrolled in school while the district works with the family to obtain the required forms.

According to the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless students are defined as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children who are:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship;
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of adequate accommodations;
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters;
• Are abandoned in hospitals;
• Awaiting foster care placement;
• Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, transportation stations or similar settings;
• Migratory children living in conditions described in the previous examples;
• Or unaccompanied youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

These students and families may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. For more information, select one of the information sheets on the right.

The district's homeless liaison coordinator is Max Torgerson at 218-697-2394 or mtorgerson@isd002.org.

If you need further assistance with your children's educational needs, contact the National Center for Homeless Education.