Wyomissing Area School District

The education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness program (ECYEH) is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is based on the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The federal legislation ensures that homeless children and youth have access to a free, appropriate, public education.

Children and youth are eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act if they have been displaced from their homes and are living in a place that is not fixed, regular, or adequate, such as:

• Sharing the housing of others due to loss housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
• In a place not designated as regular sleeping accommodation, such as a vehicle, park, hotel, or campground
• In a homeless or domestic violence shelter or transitional housing placement
• Outside of his/her home as an unaccompanied youth
• In any of the situations listed above as the child of a migrant family

The McKinney-Vento Act defines unaccompanied youth as "a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and lacking a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime residence." Unaccompanied youth have the same rights as other displaced students plus:

• The right to enroll in school as an independent student
• The right to the same challenging academic standards as housed students, including partial credit and credit recovery when needed
• The right to be informed of their status as independent students for FAFSA and receive verification of that status

Children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to:

• Continue their education in their current school, and receive transportation OR enroll immediately in the school where they are temporarily housed, even if lacking the paperwork normally required
• participate in all applicable school programs, including supplemental services
• Receive free lunch
• Receive assistance with school-related expenses such as supplies, clothing, uniforms, etc.

You can access more information on Youth Homelessness, family rights and resources at PA Government

For more information about Supports for Students Experiencing Homelessness in the Wyomissing Area School District, please view our WASD Youth Homelessness page on the website.

If you believe that you meet criteria for Homelessness, or need some assistance, please contact the ECYEH Liaison, Dr. Jessica Lengle at jlengle@wyoarea.org or at 610.374.0739 ext. 1112.