homeless students

hands

Since 2005, support from people like you has made the invaluable work of HEAR US possible.
Donate securely online. Support the work of HEAR US! Give now!

Homeless Education Rights
Understanding McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Rights

Homeless students have strong rights regarding their education. This section will attempt to present those rights in a way that will be helpful to homeless families and teens, educators, shelter staff, and persons concerned about access to education for the millions of kids without homes in this country.
- The law that specifies homeless students' rights - The McKinney Vento Homeless Education Act, 2-pg summary with legal references. Thanks, SchoolHouseConnection!
- Helpline for help getting a homeless student into school
- Resources and information about the law (thanks, SchoolHouse Connection)
- Watch the HEAR US (free) 11-minute film explaining homeless education law, REACH.
HEAR US thanks these partner organizations for providing comprehensive educational resources on the issue of families and youth experiencing homelessness:

SchoolHouse Connection, a resource for all things related to education, birth through higher ed, offers a plethora of information.

National Center for Homeless Education provides resources for students, parents, educators and anyone concerned about educational access for students experiencing homelessness.

My Own Four Walls '05

My Own Four Walls...
...the first and best film
HEAR US ever made! My Own 4 Walls logo Filmed by
Diane Nilan

Edited by Dr. Laura Vazquez, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, and her filmmaking students.

My Own Four Walls, Diane's first film, before she knew anything about filmmaking or RVing.

Back in 2005, Diane set out on an improbable journey across the US to capture images and wisdom from kids experiencing homelessness.

She went to places not thought of as having homeless kids--small towns, mid-size cities, rural areas, resort communities--and was connected to plenty of kids willing to share their stories. She got parental/guardian permission and then just let the kids talk.

In March 2007, My Own Four Walls was released.

The original DVD contained 4 videos. Those are now available on a YouTube playlist.

Discussion Guide

Perfect film to train school staff on the importance of the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act!

Ideal for all ages.