The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is authorized under the McKinney-Vento Act which seeks to address the challenges that homeless children and youths may face in enrolling, attending and succeeding in school. Under the act, state educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youths.

Homeless children and youths must have access to the educational and related services that they need to meet the same challenging state academic standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. SEAs and local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices or policies that may be barriers to the identification, enrollment, attendance or success in school of homeless children and youths. The EHCY program is authorized under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.). The act was first authorized in 1987 and re-authorized in December 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

In Greenbrier Public Schools, the McKinney Vento Act is facilitated through the district and school homeless liaisons and school Student Interventon Teams.  These staff members receive intentional training on implementation of the McKinney Vento Act as well as on strategies and support for students and families living in homelessness or transition.  For any questions about the program, please contact your liaison. The Greenbrie School District is a McKinney-Vento grantee, which allows for additional support services and resources to be provided to our families.