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Parents / Students » Homeless Education

Homeless Education

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If Your Family Lives in Any of the Following Situations:

  • In a shelter
  • In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
  • In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
  • Doubled up with other people due to the loss of housing or economic hardship

Your school-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.

Your eligible children have the right to:

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school or origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible
  • If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal it’s decision
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

If you believe your children may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available. There also may be supports available for your preschooler-age children. 

Local Liaison
Thanya Castellon
(307) 253-3185

Dispute Resolution

Occasionally families and schools may disagree over McKinney-Vento services. When a conflict occurs, both parties should work to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible. In these disputes, the responsibility of the local homeless education liaison (Greta Hinderliter) is to act as advocate for the family, assisting them through the dispute process.

In cases where the dispute cannot be resolved at the local level, the Wyoming Department of Education has established an appeals process. Families may appeal school district decisions on McKinney-Vento eligibility, school selection, participation and transportation.

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