Guidelines for Enrollment of Homeless Students and Immunizations

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance

Guidelines for Enrollment of Homeless Students and Immunizations

The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act requires that school districts immediately enroll homeless student in school, even if they do not have the documents usually required for enrollment, such as school records, medical records or proof of residency. This guide is intended to provide direction to school officials in regard to immunization status:

In Michigan, the law requires students to provide proof of immunization prior to enrollment. Since McKinney-Vento is a federal law, its requirements override the state immunization law. If a homeless child or youth arrives lacking immunizations or immunization records, the LISD Homeless Education Liaison will make a referral to the LISD nurse who will then:

·  Contact the student’s Department of Human Services (DHS) case worker for direction.

·  If the student does not have a case worker as above, the LISD nurse will work to contact the student’s family and home school district Homeless Education Liaison (if one exists) for direction.

·  If the student was immunized in another state, the LISD nurse will work to obtain any records available.

·  In any case where the student needs immunizations, the LISD nurse may coordinate this need with the Lenawee County Health Department’s Immunization Clinic to ensure the student’s immunization status is brought up to date ASAP.

·  Make timely entries into the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), the online system used to track immunization status.

·  Keep records of all activities as above in collaboration with the LISD Homeless Education Liaison.

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