Abstract
Students with disabilities who are also experiencing homelessness face compounded challenges related to attending and participating in school. These children and youth are provided educational protection through two federal laws: the 2004 “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” (IDEA) and the McKinney-Vento (MV) Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program. It is the responsibility of educators, school personnel, and families to carefully navigate the dual mandates in order to ensure equitable educational opportunities, while also meeting the unique needs of each student. The purpose of this article is to offer a foundation for understanding the intersection of the two laws and for effectively implementing them to deliver appropriate services and resources to students. First, an overview of the combined impact of disability and homelessness on students, as well as of the EHCY program, is provided. Then, the key areas of intersection of the two laws are articulated through Virginia-specific examples, in addition to relevant court cases. Finally, intersectionality considerations related to the improvement of service coordination for this population of students are offered.
Recommended Citation
Patricia A. Popp & Martha Crockett,
Navigating the Intersection of Mckinney-Vento and Idea,
27
Rich. Pub. Int. L. Rev.
179
(2024).
Available at:
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/pilr/vol27/iss2/6