East Rutherford School District

The McKinney-Vento Act – Parent-Student Rights

The East Rutherford School District shall provide an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every child and youth in housing transition shall have access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as children and youth not in housing transition. The commitment to the educational rights of children and youth in housing transition applies to all services, programs, and activities provided or made available. 

A child or youth may be considered eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act if he or she lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:

• children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, camping grounds, or trailer parks due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; 

• children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a private or public place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

• children and youth who are living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; and

• migratory children and youth who are living in a situation described above.

According to the McKinney-Vento Act, eligible students have the right to:

Immediate Enrollment: Eligible students who lack documentation normally required for enrollment, and/or immunization records must be immediately enrolled. The lack of required documents cannot serve as a barrier to enrollment. 

School Selection: Eligible students have a right to select from the following schools:

• The school they attended when permanently housed (School of Origin)

• The school in which they were last enrolled (School of Origin)

• The school in the attendance area in which the student currently resides (School of Residency)

Remain Enrolled: Eligible students have the right to stay in their selected school for the duration of the academic year in which they are permanently housed. 

Participate in Programs: Eligible students have the right to fully participate in all programs for which they are eligible, including Title I tutoring, free lunch in schools, Special Education, and other programs the school offers. Eligible students also have the right to fully participate in extracurricular activities. 

Transportation Services: Eligible students attending their school of origin have a right to transportation to and from the school of origin. 

Dispute Resolution: If you disagree with school officials about enrollment, transportation, or fair treatment of a child or youth in housing transition, you may file a complaint with the school district. The school district must respond and attempt to resolve it quickly. During the dispute, the student must be immediately enrolled in school and provided transportation until the matter is resolved. The District Liaison will assist you in making decisions, and filling out dispute forms, and will provide notice of the appeals process. 

McKinney-Vento Homeless Coordinator  

Ms. Sharon King-Dobson  

201-623-8150 Ext. 5001