Student Services
McKinney-Vento Act
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Click Here)
Homelessness is often thought of as something that only happens to people with particular
traits, habits, or economic standing, but it impacts people from all backgrounds. Consider the
following: lack of affordable housing, job loss, serious illness/accident, natural disaster,
significant life changes, child and youth abuse and domestic violence are among some of the
reasons for a loss of housing
In January of 2002, Congress authorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to
help people experiencing homelessness. The federal law includes the Education of Homeless
Children and Youth Program that entitles children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate
nighttime residence to a free, appropriate education and requires schools to remove barriers
to their enrollment, attendance and success in school. The McKinney-Vento Program meets
the needs of homeless students attending Unity Classical Charter School by addressing
academic challenges and family issues affecting their success in school.
Examples of living situations that may qualify include, but are not limited to:
● Living with a friend, relative or other person/family because of a loss of housing
● Staying in a motel or hotel because of a loss of housing, fleeing domestic violence, or
natural disaster
● Living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or domestic violence shelter
● Living in a car, park or public place, abandoned building or bus station
● Living temporarily in substandard housing
● Living in a campground or an inadequate trailer home
● Living in a runaway or homeless youth shelter; run away youth
● Youth living on their own, even if their families want them to come home
Requesting Services
Services provided include immediate enrollment, school selection promoting stability, nutrition
and academic support. McKinney-Vento services are provided for the duration of a school
year and do not automatically renew.
To obtain more information about eligibility, services
provided and how to access services, please contact your child's McKinney-Vento liaison at
their current school.
You may also contact Unity Classical Charter Schools Homeless Liaison or NC Homeless
Education State Coordinator.
Alicia Hamp
Homeless Liaison
704-504-8460
ahamp@unityclassical.org
Lisa Phillips
State Coordinator
NC Homeless Education Program (http://center.serve.org/hepnc/)
PO Box 5367
Greensboro, NC 27435
Office: 336.315.7491
MTSS/ Exceptional Children
COVID versus a Suspected Disability
One of the interesting challenges brought about by the COVID-19 school closures is the loss of student skill development. It can be complex to distinguish between a regular education student or special education student who has lost academic achievement gains due to remote instruction or a lack of instruction in some unique situations. This section is designed to help navigate the difference between a suspected disability and the unfortunate loss of skills due to less-than-ideal instructional circumstances as a result of health department restrictions.
Suspected Disability vs Lack of Appropriate Instruction
What to Expect When Attending an IEP Meeting
Special Education Cycle of Processes
Special Education Initial Referral Meeting
At-Home Learning Resources
This is a non-exhaustive list of virtual resources to aid in supporting parent engagement in their child’s education at home.
Academic Resources at Home
- Nessy
- Renaissance
- Amplify- Reading
- Singapore Math
- Scholastic Learn at Home
- Mystery Science
- Khan Academy
- Interactive Simulations for Science and Math
- Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)
- Reinforcement and rewards
- Self-regulation support
- Reading activities
- Phonological awareness activities
- Math activities
- Social relationships, interactions, and cooperation
- Emotional awareness
- Motor skill development and functional abilities
IDEA and Parent Rights
- Parent Rights Handbook
- NC Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities
- Project Child Find Documents available at the front office
- Help Decoding Forms
- New to Unity Classical contact Student Services' Director
- NC DPI EC Division Website
- Multi-Tiered System of Support for Families
- NC DPI EC Division: Parent Resources
The digital resources included on this site are intended to support the education of parents and professionals of the Unity Classical Charter School community. However, due to the rapidly changing digital environment, Unity Classical does not represent nor endorse these resources as exclusive resources for the purposes outlined on this site.