Skip To Main Content

Homeless Student/McKinney-Vento Act Information

McKinney-Vento or Families In Transition (F.I.T.) is a piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in U.S. public schools. It was reauthorized as Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002. Every school system receiving McKinney-Vento funding must assign a McKinney Vento district liaison to assist families and assure homeless families’ rights are upheld. 


Hertford County Public Schools District Homeless Liaison/Foster Care Point of Contact is Dr. Sophia Allmond. Dr. Allmond can be reached at (252) 358-1761 or via email at sallmond@hertford.k12.nc.us. The supporting School Social Worker is Mrs. Regina Harmon. Mrs. Harmon can be reached at (252) 518-1199 or via email at rharmon@hertford.k12.nc.us. The State Coordinator for Homeless Education is Lisa Phillips. She can be reached at (336) 315-7491 or via email at lphillip@serve.org. 
The National Center for Homeless Education at The SERVE Center at UNC-Greensboro provides statewide assistance and guidance to schools through a contract with the Department of Public Instruction. NCHE website is http://center.serve.org/hepnc.  NCHEP website for further information on eligibility and rights is https://hepnc.uncg.edu/.

Eligibility for McKinney-Vento services include families or unaccompanied youth living in the following conditions:

  • Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or domestic violence shelter
  • Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building, bus station, or train station
  • Living in temporarily in condemned or substandard housing
  • Living "doubled up" with a friend, relative, or other person because of a loss of housing or economic hardship
  • Living in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing or fleeing domestic violence
  • Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home
  • Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter; run away youth
  • Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home

 

Homeless Counts for Hertford County  Public Schools:

  • 2020-2021 = 0
  • 2021-2022 = 0
  • 2022-2023 = 0 

 

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 of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference. * If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must schedule a Best Interest Determination (BID) meeting to discuss the data contributing to their belief and provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its 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.

 

Eligibility for McKinney-Vento supports and services is assessed by the district's Homeless Liaison Services provided include immediate enrollment, ensuring school selection promotes stability, nutrition support, and academic support. Once a student or family is determined eligible to receive McKinney-Vento services by the district's Homeless Liaison, services and supports are provided for the duration of a school year.  Services and supports do not automatically renew. The Homeless Liaison or supporting social worker will assess continued eligibility for the following school year(s). To obtain more information about services provided and how to access services, please contact:

 

Below you will find additional information and resources about the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act also known as Families in Transition (F.I.T.).

McKinney- Vento Definition - National Center for Homeless Education
Defining Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Parent Resources - National Center for Homeless Education McKinney Vento
Moore County Schools Dispute Resolution Procedure
Dispute Resolution Form - Homeless Education 
Unaccompanied Youth Resource Website 
Connections Website For Families in Transition