While having the opportunity to enroll and succeed in school may seem like a given to many of us, the McKinney-Vento Act was enacted due to the numerous barriers eligible children faced in obtaining a free, appropriate public education. 

To address this issue, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Act, reauthorized most recently as the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act. This act guarantees eligible children and youth the following: 

• The right to immediate enrollment in school, even if lacking paperwork normally required for enrollment.
• The right to attend school in his/her school of origin (if this is requested by the parent and is feasible) or in the school in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing.
• The right to receive transportation to his/her school of origin, if this is requested by the parent.
• The right to services comparable to those received by housed schoolmates, including transportation and supplemental educational services.
• The right to attend school along with children not experiencing hardship. Segregation based on a student's status as McKinney Vento is strictly prohibited.
• The posting of McKinney Vento students' rights in all schools and other places around the community.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized January 2002