School Selection and Best Interest Determination: Strategies for Educators

Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Act, reauthorized in 2015 by Title IX, Part A of the "Every Student Succeeds Act" guarantees a child or youth identified as homeless the right to attend either the school of origin or the local attendance area school in the area in which they are currently residing. This brief explains the provisions in the law related to school selection, offers strategies for linking students experiencing homelessness to services in their school of origin, provides practical suggestions for determining the school that is in the best interest of a student experiencing homelessness to attend, and provides practical suggestions for discussing school selection choices with youth experiencing homelessness, their parents, and their guardians, within the framework of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.