Homeless Students
Every Student Belongs
Homeless Students
Rights of homeless students under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Leona Group Schools provides an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every homeless student has access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who are not homeless. This commitment to the educational rights of homeless students, youth, and unaccompanied youth applies to all services, programs, and activities provided or made available.
Who May Qualify
A student may be eligible for services as a “Homeless Student or Youth” under the McKinney-Vento Act if he or she is presently living:
- In a shelter
- In a motel or hotel
- In a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station
- Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- In a campground due to the lack of an alternative accommodation
Eligible Students 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 of origin, if that is the family’s preference — with a written explanation and the right to appeal if the district disagrees
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students
How to Get Help
If you believe your child(ren) may be eligible, contact the front office at (480) 813-1151 and request McKinney-Vento services and the district liaison’s contact information. Families experiencing housing instability may not be required to provide standard enrollment documentation — please inform the school if this applies to you.
Arizona Department of Education — Homeless Education Program Coordinator: (602) 542-4963 · Homeless@azed.gov
National Center for Homeless Education — 1-800-308-2145 · homeless@serve.org