McKinney-Vento: Youth Understanding of Rights and Resources

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:40 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Curating Dynamic Spaces for Action and Transformation (Table 6)

Abstract

This study was motivated by a previous study we conducted on how the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act was implemented in a local school district. Utilizing Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, the study explored how practitioners were able to connect students experiencing homelessness to resources and found that students who were more likely to receive aid were explicitly informed about their rights, resources, and support and had an opportunity to participate in referral processes, according to practitioners. This study's objective is to learn from youth perspectives; their familiarity with McKinney-Vento rights and their ability to access resources they are entitled to. Our preliminary findings indicated youth are unaware of their rights and show interest in learning and sharing information with other youth.

Authors

• Rue Mansour, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Rebeca Mireles-Rios, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Micah Gerola, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Amanda Barrios-Griggs, Advocates for Human Potential