McKinney-Vento Homeless Initiative
Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY) program
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. This federal legislation ensures that homeless children and youth have access to a free, appropriate, public education.
For more information, please contact your child’s school counselor or the Director of Safe and Supportive Schools.
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 of 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
- Awaiting foster care
- In any of the situations listed above as the child of a migrant family
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.
The Point of Contact for the homeless initiative at Derry Township School District is:
Shauntae Iachini, Director of Supportive Schools.
Mrs. Iachini can be reached at siachini@hershey.k12.pa.us