What is McKinney-Vento?McKinney-Vento refers to students experiencing homelessness or families in transition. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), this law protects eligible students from discrimination and mandates equal access to educational services. The law mandates schools designate someone to be a "homeless liaison" to act as the contact for families in transition and community agencies serving these families.
A student may qualify if they are currently:

• Living in a shelter
• Share housing with relatives or friends due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
• Living in a motel, hotel, or campground due to lack of adequate housing
• A youth not living with a parent or guardian who meets the definition under the McKinney-Vento Act.
• Migratory children who qualify as homeless because the children are living in circumstances stated above.
• In other situations that are not fixed, regular, or adequate for night time residence

McKinney-Vento Students have the rights to:

• Immediate school enrollment: Even if they lack proof of residency, guardianship, immunizations, or school records
• Transportation: While students are in unstable housing, transportation is provided for students residing outside of attendance area
• School Fee Waivers: Students have the right to equal access of education
• School Choice: Students may choose to stay at the school attended when permanently housed or to enroll in the school where they are currently living for the remainder of the academic year
• Free Lunch:  Students are eligible to receive free school lunch immediately upon their enrollment and/or identification as being in a homeless situation.

Contact Information

Please contact WCSD’s Homeless Liaison, Makenzie Hamer, at 608-849-1800 or your school social worker if you think you may qualify for services under McKinney-Vento.

New this year!  Apply for free and reduced price meals or milk in the Campus Parent portal. This is the preferred method. The 2022-2023 school year application is available now in Campus Parent.  Applications will be reviewed beginning in August.

From the Message Center, click on More.

Next, click on Meal Benefits.

Click on start the application process. 

Paper copies of the application may be completed using form links below, using acrobat reader. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information.

Return the completed application to Jessica Dargenio, Taher Food Service, 101 School Drive, Waunakee, WI  53597.

Welcome Back to the 2022-2023 School Year from Taher!

Free and Reduced Meal Application 2022-2023 (English/Spanish)

Share Form 2022-2023

To save you time and effort, the information you gave on your Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application may be shared with other programs for which your children may qualify. For the following programs, we must have your permission to share your information. Sending in this form will not change whether your children get free or reduced price meals.

The following links are a few important family resources available.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

Dane County Human Services

Student Financial Assistance Fund

Waunakee Neighborhood Connection

If this is an emergency, please call 911.
 

Crisis text line: Text “HOME” to 741741  

988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Dial 988

Journey Mental Health Emergency Line:  (608) 280-2600

Trevor Project: Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678-678

Behavioral Health Resource Center Call the BHRC at (608) 267-2244