Middletown Area School District is aware that life situations can occur that result in families being displaced from their living situations. We desire to do everything we can to assist students in their education even if they don't have permanent housing. Homeless or displaced families should contact the District immediately upon their displacement so the District can provide assistance in continuing their children's education. The District's homeless liaison and social workers will provide parents with a copy of their rights under McKinney-Vento, will meet with the families to assess their needs, and act as a liaison to coordinate appropriate assistance for students experiencing homelessness. Please contact:

Dr. Alexis Wertz
Assistant to the Superintendent
[email protected]
717-948-3300, ext. 1008

What is meant by the term “Homeless Children and Youths?”

Section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Act 10 defines "homeless children and youths" as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term includes:

Children and youths who:
...are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as "doubled-up");
are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
...are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or
...are abandoned in hospitals;
...have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
…unaccompanied youth who are not living with a parent or guardian (i.e. - run away children and youth, youth forced to leave their home by parent/guardian, living in shelters, school-aged parents living in housing away from their parent)
...are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
...migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.

Information for School-Age Youth

You may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act if you live in any of the following situations: a shelter; motel or campground due to the lack of an adequate alternative accommodation; a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station; or if you are doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship.

As an eligible student, you 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, and enroll in the local school or continue attending your school of origin (the school you attended when permanently housed or the school in which you were last enrolled), if that is your preference and is feasible.

If the school district believes that the school selected is not in your best interest, the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.

You also have the right to receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this, and have the right to receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your needs as a student.

Homeless Education Resources

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is a free service for displaced families. The NCHE website provides information about your child's school rights and includes helpful resources for parents. NCHE representatives can be reached by email at [email protected].

Pennsylvania Basic Education Circular (BEC) on Education for Homeless Youth

MASD Board Policy 251 - Students Experiencing Homelessness, Foster Care and Other Educational Instability

MASD Homeless Dispute Resolution Process

Local Homeless Services

Off The Streets assists families and individuals in Middletown and neighboring communities, facilitating their transition from the streets into stable housing.