The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless:

Section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Act defines "homeless children and youths" as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence​​.

McKinney-Vento Number of identified students:

2025-2026: 127

2024-2025: 125

2023-2024: 126

2022-2023: 140

2021-2022: 76

2020-2021: 35

Definitions of Homeless:

• Children and youths who are:

  • Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as "doubled-up")

  • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;

  • Living in emergency or transitional shelters; or

  • Abandoned in hospitals;

     

• Children and youths who have a primary residence that is public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

• Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.

   

Rights of Parents and Unaccompanied Youth:

Children and youth experiencing homelessness have the right to:

1) contact information, including telephone number, e-mail address, and physical address of the homeless liaison and of the State Coordinator for homeless education, with a brief description of their roles;

2) notice that, within two school days of the school’s decision, the complainant has the right to notify the homeless liaison that the complainant intends to appeal the decision;

3) an explanation of the appeal procedure, including the timeline and process for making the initial appeal and for pursuing a subsequent appeal to the superintendent and board, as provided by this policy;

4) a complaint form that a complainant can understand, complete, and submit to the homeless liaison to initiate the dispute resolution process and to pursue any subsequent appeals to the superintendent and board;

5) notice that the board of education or a designated panel of the board will make the final decision on behalf of the school system;

6) notice of the right to appeal, or request an extension of time to appeal, the final decision of the school system to the State Coordinator within three school days of receipt of the final decision;

7) notice of the right to enroll immediately in the school located in the assignment area of the student’s temporary residence or remain in the school of origin with transportation provided by the school system pending resolution of the dispute if such transportation is requested by the parent, guardian, or homeless liaison on behalf of the youth;

8) notice that the right to enroll includes the right to fully participate in all school activities; 

9) notice of the right to obtain assistance of advocates or attorneys; and

10) notice of the right to provide supporting written or oral documentation during the appeals process.

Additional information may be found at North Carolina Homeless Education Program website.