McKinney-Vento, Foster Care and Parent & Family Engagement Liaison
Cathy Bourm
(360) 582-3674 (office)
(360) 460-3457 (cell)
[email protected]
McKinney -Vento Building Points of Contacts
Greywolf: Rebecca Uskoski - [email protected]
Helen Haller: Baili Shaw - [email protected]
Middle School:
(Students A - K) Sharon Schubert - [email protected]
(Students L - Z) Samuel Swenson- [email protected]
High School:
(Students A - K) Melee Vander Velde - [email protected],
(Students L - Z) Sarah Thorson - [email protected]
Dungeness Virtual School & Olympic Peninsula Academy (DVS/OPA)
Kelly Phillips - [email protected]
High School Youth Services Resource Navigator
Kaidence Cary
(360) 328-1347 (cell)
[email protected]
Works part time, Monday- Wednesday- Friday, 8:00 am to Noon.
* Employed by Olympic Educational Service District 114 to work with counselors & McKinney-Vento Liaison to support students at Sequim High School.
OSPI McKinney-Vento Program Supervisor
Melinda Dyer
(360) 725-6505 (office)
[email protected]
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve homeless students.
The goal of Sequim School District’s McKinney-Vento Program is to keep students in school and promote their academic, physical, social and emotional success and growth. We also want to assist families in staying involved in their children's education and reducing risks they may face.
Defining Homeless
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:
- Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
- Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
- Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
- Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
- Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc.)
- Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
- Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations
Eligible students have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education.
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
- Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
- Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their preference.
*If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then the district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students’ needs.
If you believe you may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available.
Forms:
Student Housing Questionnaire
2nd Semester Housing Questionnaire
McKinney-Vento/Student Homelessness Information Links:
OSPI Homeless Education Information - Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction website regarding homeless education.
School House Connection - A non-profit organization working to overcome homelessness through education
National Center for Homeless Education - NCHE operates the U.S. Department of Education's technical assistance and information center for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act.
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children - NAEHCY is a national membership association dedicated to educational equity and excellence for children and youth experiencing homelessness.
Updated August 2024