Our Mission
This page provides a general overview of the provisions for educating children and youth who are in homeless situations, including the definition of “homeless” and links to resources dealing with other issues such as transportation, immunizations, and records. For more information contact Dr. Autumn Leal.
Every Child Has a Right to an Education
The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act protects the rights of homeless children and youth to receive a free and appropriate public education. Nearly everyone in Texas who is between the ages of 5 and 21 on September 1 of the school year and has not been expelled has the right to attend school, even if they:
- Don’t have a permanent address
- Have a previous address in another town or state
- Don’t live with a parent or legal guardian
- Live temporarily doubled-up with friends or family
- Sleep in a shelter
- Sleep in a campground, car, abandoned building, or other facility not designated for, or ordinarily used as regular accommodations for, human beings
- Don’t have school records
For additional information or questions, please contact Assistant Superintendent Autumn Leal at autumn_leal@austin.utexas.edu