Homeless Assistance
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is designed to ensure educational rights and protections for students experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is defined as children and youth who “lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”
Consistent with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines, the Beverly Public Schools afford homeless students and unaccompanied youth special consideration in addition to access to the same free, appropriate public education and opportunities thereof, that is provided to all other children and youth living in Beverly. The district will enroll homeless students even if they do not have the documents required for enrollment, such as school records, medical records, or proof of residency. Homeless students and unaccompanied youth are entitled to receive free and reduced school meals, transportation, English language services, vocational and technical education, gifted and talented services, special education, all extra curricular activities and Title I services.