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Families Experiencing Homelessness

The Wilkinsburg School District is committed to ensuring that every student has access to a stable, high-quality education, regardless of their housing situation. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, children and youth experiencing homelessness have educational rights and protections that help remove barriers to school enrollment, attendance, and success. 

Who Qualifies?

A student may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Act if they do not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This may include children and youth who are:

  • Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
  • Living in a motel, hotel, campground, emergency shelter, or transitional shelter.
  • Living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, or other place not intended for regular housing.
  • Living in substandard housing.
  • Living without a parent or legal guardian (unaccompanied youth).

If you are unsure whether your child qualifies, please contact Alyx Strotman at strotmana@wilkinsburgschools.org. 

Educational Rights

Students experiencing homelessness have the right to:

  • Enroll in school immediately, even if typical enrollment documents are unavailable.
  • Remain in their school of origin when it is in the student's best interest.
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, when eligible.
  • Participate fully in all school programs and activities.
  • Receive the same educational services as other students, including special education, English learner services, gifted education, career and technical education, preschool programs, and extracurricular activities.
  • Receive free school meals if eligible under federal guidelines.

Enrollment

Students experiencing homelessness may enroll immediately, even if they do not have documents such as: 

  • Proof of residency
  • Birth certificate
  • Immunization records
  • School records or transcripts

The Wilkinsburg School District will work with the family and previous school to obtain the necessary records. 

Transportation

Transportation may be available for eligible students who remain in their school of origin. If transportation involves more than one school district, the districts will coordinate services to ensure the student can continue attending school.