Arizona State Laws, Arizona Administrative Code and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 ensure educational rights to children living in transitional and homeless situations.

The McKinney-Vento Act was established to assist homeless children and youth with enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this legislation, homeless youth are guaranteed the same educational services that all students are provided in order to meet challenging academic standards. The Act also ensures that homeless youth be educated in their neighborhood school or in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing.

If, due to a lack of housing, you must live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground, on the street, in abandoned buildings or trailers, or doubled-up with relatives or friends, then according to the McKinney-Vento Act, you may be eligible for participation in the Lake Havasu Unified School District Families in Transition (FIT) program.

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 of 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 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.

View the Educational Rights of Homeless Children and Youth

Ver los derechos educativos de los niños y jóvenes sin hogar

The following resources are pdf forms that can be filled out electronically, but then must be printed/saved and sent to the school or district office.

Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit

Declaración jurada de autorización del cuidador

Arizona Student Residency Questionnaire

Cuestionario de residencia para estudiantes en Arizona

For more information, please contact your school or the Families in Transition (FIT) Program Liaison, Shannah Wysocki, at 928-505-6970.

Click for a print version of the flyer

Haga clic para obtener una versión
impresa del folleto