The McKinney—Vento Homeless Education Act is the federal law that entitles children who are homeless to a free, appropriate public education, and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance, and success in school. All homeless children have a right to receive an equitable level and quality of services provided to other children, including transportation, educational services, and nutritional and health services.

Students are able to continue to attend Alma del Mar if their housing situation changes or if they lose housing, even if they move outside of New Bedford. NBPS Transportation is available to students at new addresses, in shelter, or living doubled-up, as long as they are within New Bedford and greater than one mile from the school. We can also provide assistance with transportation in some circumstances if a change in housing situation requires a family to live outside of New Bedford. A change in housing can be stressful; we hope to be a supportive resource for students and families who experience a move or loss of housing.

Please contact Alma del Mar's Family Engagement Coordinator Marie Tavares at 508-203-7546 if you have any questions.

You may also submit a referral form if you or someone you know within the Alma school community is experiencing homelessness.

IS YOUR FAMILY TEMPORARILY STAYING IN:

someone else’s house or apartment due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason?
a hotel or motel?
a shelter?
a car, park, campground, abandoned building, or other inadequate space?

Alma del Mar’s McKinney-Vento liaison may be able to help!

If your family is staying in these living situations, your children have the right to receive extra services and supports in school under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. These include:

Staying in the same school, even if you move
Receiving free transportation to and from that school if it is in your best educational interest to stay
Referrals to the community for help with other needs

Please reach out to the homeless liaison to see if your child may be eligible.

Marie Tavares, Family Engagement Coordinator & McKinney-Vento Liaison
Cell: 508-203-7546
[email protected]

If you are unable to reach the liaison, please contact your McKinney-Vento Homeless Education State Coordinator: schoolhouseconnection.org/homeless-directory