The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homelessness as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Homeless students have the right to:

• Go to school, no matter where they live now or how long they have lived there.
• Start school immediately, even if they are missing records and documents normally required for enrollment.
• Attend the neighborhood school closest to where they currently live, or attend their school of origin. School of origin is the school the child last attended when permanently housed or where he/she was last enrolled.
• Receive transportation to and from their school of origin, whenever feasible.
• Participate fully in all school activities while their new school arranges for records transfer.
• Receive the same programs and services as their peers and be treated with the same respect and attention.