McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and Education Department Closure Concerns

SOURCE www.npr.org
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides legal protections and federal grant money to help students experiencing homelessness get an education. However, there are concerns that the Trump administration's plans to close the U.S. Education Department could put these protections at risk.

Key Points

  • 1.4 million U.S. pre-K-12 students experienced homelessness in the 2022-'23 school year
  • McKinney-Vento Act allows students to stay in their school despite housing changes
  • Concerns about the future of the Act with the potential closure of the Education Department

Pros

  • Provides legal protections for students experiencing homelessness
  • Allocates federal grant money to support students and families in need

Cons

  • Potential risk of losing protections if the Education Department is closed
  • Uncertainty regarding the Trump administration's plans for the McKinney-Vento Act