Vermont McKinney-Vento Grandparent School Enrollment

What McKinney-Vento Means for Kinship Families in Vermont

The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act guarantees immediate school enrollment for children experiencing housing instability. For grandparents and relatives who've taken in a child due to a family crisis, this law can bypass the paperwork barriers that normally slow down enrollment.

Under McKinney-Vento, a child qualifies for protection if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Children who are "doubled up" — living with relatives because of economic hardship, loss of housing, or a similar reason — can qualify. A homeless child or youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian may also qualify as an unaccompanied youth.

Does the Child Living With You Qualify?

Not every kinship arrangement triggers McKinney-Vento protections. The key question is why the child moved in. If the child came to live with you because of housing loss, economic hardship, parental crisis (addiction, incarceration, hospitalization), or another situation that left them without stable housing, the law likely applies.

If the arrangement is planned, voluntary, and long-term, and the child has a fixed and adequate home with you, it may not qualify as homelessness under the statute. But the line isn't always clear, and the law favors the child. When in doubt, ask the school's Homeless Education Liaison to make a determination.

Immediate Enrollment Without the Usual Paperwork

When a child qualifies under McKinney-Vento, the school must enroll them immediately, even without birth certificates, immunization records, prior school transcripts, proof of guardianship, or proof of residency. The enrolling school must immediately contact the previous school for records. Transportation to the school of origin must be provided at the request of the parent or guardian (or the liaison for an unaccompanied youth) when that school is selected in the child's best interest.

This is one of the strongest enrollment protections in federal education law. A school cannot delay attendance while it sorts out paperwork.

How to Contact Your District's Homeless Education Liaison

Every Vermont supervisory union is required to designate a Homeless Education Liaison. This person is your point of contact for McKinney-Vento enrollment. Call the school district's main office and ask to speak with the Homeless Education Liaison. If you're not sure which district to call, the Vermont Agency of Education can direct you.

When you reach the liaison, explain the child's living situation and how they came to be in your care. The liaison will determine McKinney-Vento eligibility and coordinate immediate enrollment if the child qualifies.

What McKinney-Vento Does Not Do

McKinney-Vento guarantees school access, but it doesn't grant you legal custody, medical consent authority, or the right to make major educational decisions like consenting to special education evaluations. For those, you still need either a parent's written authorization or formal court authority.

If the child becomes permanently housed during an academic year, they retain the right to attend the school of origin for the remainder of that academic year. After that, regular enrollment procedures may apply.

Putting the Pieces Together

McKinney-Vento handles the immediate school enrollment crisis, but you'll still need to address medical consent, routine school permissions, and possibly a longer-term legal arrangement. Our Vermont School and Medical Consent Guide covers all of these, including when a parent's letter is enough, when you need a power of attorney, and when guardianship becomes the right move. It includes a directory of free Vermont resources, including Legal Services Vermont at 1-800-889-2047.

See more Vermont guides →