Fort Worth Independent School District
Rights for Students
What rights do unhoused students have by law?
Students who do not have a permanent legal residence have the right to…
- Enroll in their school of origin (school of attendance when student became unhoused), OR enroll in the school that is zoned for the area where they currently live. NOTE: McKinney-Vento students DO NOT have the option to choose any school in the District.
- Enroll immediately and attend school, even if they do not have the usual documents necessary for enrollment, including proof of residence or proof of guardian. NOTE: Schools MUST permit homeless students to enroll without documents.
- An enrollment conference facilitated by a campus designee who will assist the student in settling in at the campus, if new, and begin building relationships to ensure success.
- Receive services comparable to those received by housed schoolmates, including transportation and supplemental education services.
- Attend school along with children not experiencing homelessness. (Segregation based on a student's status as homeless is strictly prohibited.)
- Posting of homeless students' rights in all school and other places around the community.