Connections

About Us

Northside Independent School District is dedicated to the education of all children. The CONNECTIONS Program provides services to students and families experiencing homelessness. This can provide students with the opportunity to engage, contribute, and succeed. 

The CONNECTIONS Program determines student eligibility by following and adhering to the guidelines set forth by McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Education Assistance Act is a federal law that provides services to families and unaccompanied youth that live in a temporary situation due to loss of housing.

• For more information and to view the federal law, visit The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless page.

Eligibility for Services

• Living in shared housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons.
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, cars, substandard housing, abandoned buildings, and/or campgrounds.
• Living in emergency or transitional shelter/program (ex: domestic violence, runaway youth shelter, and transitional living program.)
• Being an unaccompanied youth (not living with a parent or guardian) living in a temporary situation (ex. young people who have run away from home, been thrown out of their homes, or been abandoned by parents).
• Being a foster child who is living in any of the above circumstances.

Student Educational Rights

• Enroll in school without providing a permanent address, school records or immunization records required for enrollment.
• Enroll and attend school, even if the student lives outside of the school boundary.
• Choice to remain in their "school of origin" or transfer to a school in their current attendance zone.
• All services provided are comparable to those offered to non-homeless students.
• Immediate eligibility for free child nutrition.
• Transportation assistance

Services

The CONNECTIONS Program provides:

• Enrollment Assistance
• School Supplies
• Backpacks
• Clothing/School Uniforms
• Transportation
• Community Resource Referrals

Resources