Enroll in School Without a Permanent Address (Arizona)

Yes. If your family does not have a fixed, regular and adequate place to sleep at night, federal law requires the public school you choose to enroll your child immediately, even if you have no birth certificate, immunization record, proof of residency or school records in hand. The school then helps you gather the documents. This is the McKinney-Vento Act, every Arizona district has a person whose job is to apply it, and you do not have to explain your circumstances beyond a short questionnaire.

Who the law covers

The statute uses the word "homeless," and it defines it more broadly than most people use the word. Under 42 U.S.C. 11434a, it covers children and youth who "lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence," including those who are:

sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (the law's phrase for staying with relatives or friends);
living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
living in emergency or transitional shelters;
living in a place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation;
living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings;
migratory children living in any of these situations.

It also covers "unaccompanied youth": a young person who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, whatever the reason.

If one of these describes your family this week, the protections apply this week. The district's liaison decides case by case, and a family that moves from one temporary arrangement to another stays covered.

What immediate enrollment means

The law (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)) says the school "shall immediately enroll" the child "even if the child or youth is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, records of immunization and other required health records, proof of residency, or other documentation," or has missed an application or enrollment deadline. "Enroll" in the statute means attending classes and participating fully, not sitting on a list.

After enrolling, the school must promptly request the records from the previous school, and the district liaison "shall assist in obtaining" immunization and health records. Arizona state law lines up with this:

The proof-of-identity-and-age statute (A.R.S. 15-828) says it "does not apply to homeless pupils."
The immunization statute (A.R.S. 15-872) defers the proof requirement for a homeless pupil until the fifth calendar day after enrollment. After that, federal law still requires the liaison to obtain the records and the child to stay in class, and ADHS tells schools not to exclude these students while records are gathered. If a school tries to exclude after day five, ask for the liaison and point to both.

You will be asked to sign a form and to describe your living situation in general terms so the liaison can apply the law's definition; you will not be asked for a lease, a bill or proof of where you sleep.

School of origin or the local school

You have a choice, and it is yours to make with the district's help:

The school of origin: the school your child attended before the move, or the one they were last enrolled in. The district must keep the child there if that is in the child's best interest, and must provide transportation to it. This matters most when a family has moved within the same metro area and the child would otherwise change schools in the middle of a year.
The local school: any public school that other children living where you are staying would attend. This is usually the choice when you have come from far away.

The district decides best interest with you, and the law presumes staying in the school of origin is in the child's best interest unless that is against your wishes. If the district disagrees with your choice, it must enroll your child in the school you asked for while the dispute is resolved, give you a written explanation, and tell you how to appeal.

Transportation and meals

Transportation to the school of origin must be provided when you ask for it, arranged by the liaison; if you have moved into another district, the two districts share the cost. "School of origin" includes preschool and the school your child would have moved up to (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J) and (g)(3)(I)). ADE's family page says the liaison can "set up transportation to and from the school of origin." ADE's family page also says the liaison can help with free school meals, school supplies and referrals to other services. Ask.

The district liaison and the state coordinator

Every Arizona district (and charter) designates a McKinney-Vento liaison. ADE describes the liaison as the person who "determines if students qualify," helps choose the school, enrolls the child, obtains supplies and free meals, and arranges transportation. ADE publishes the liaison list for every district.

If you cannot find the liaison, or the district is not following the law, the Arizona Homeless Education Program at ADE is the state office. As of October 2026 the State Coordinator is Rita Rodriguez, homeless@azed.gov, (602) 542-4963.

The Arizona Student Residency Questionnaire

Arizona enrollment packets include a form called the Arizona Student Residency Questionnaire (the August 2024 version was current as of October 2026). Section B asks whether the family's current living arrangement is temporary and lists the situations above as checkboxes. Answering yes routes the form to the liaison, who follows up. This form is how most families are identified; you do not need to know the name of the law or ask for it by name. If the packet you are given does not include it, ask for "the residency questionnaire" or for the liaison.

How to ask

You do not owe anyone your story. Three sentences are enough at the front desk:

"We are staying with family for now and don't have a lease or a utility bill. I understand the district has a McKinney-Vento liaison. Can I speak with them, or can you give me the residency questionnaire?"

Change "staying with family" to whatever is true: "in a motel," "in a shelter," "in our car." The staff member does not need details. If you prefer, call the district office first and ask for the liaison by role; ADE's list has the names and numbers.

If a youth is enrolling alone, the same sentences work in the first person; the law directs the liaison to assist unaccompanied youth with enrollment decisions, giving priority to the youth's views, and any dispute notice goes to the youth, who has the right to appeal (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(3)(B)(iv)).

If a school refuses

Sometimes the front office does not know the law. If you are told to come back with documents, or that your child cannot start until the file arrives:

Ask for the liaison by name or by role.
Say that under the McKinney-Vento Act your child must be enrolled immediately and that you will provide documents as you get them.
If the answer is still no, ask for it in writing. The law requires a written explanation and the right to appeal, and your child must be enrolled while the appeal runs.
Contact ADE's state coordinator at (602) 542-4963 or homeless@azed.gov.

A school's own enrollment deadline or missing immunization records are not reasons to delay a child covered by this law.

What comes next

Once your child is enrolled, the usual steps follow at a pace you can manage: the school requests prior records, the liaison helps replace a birth certificate or pull an immunization record from the state registry, and you provide proof of residency when you have an address. If you later sign a lease, tell the school; the law lets your child finish the school year where they are. Everything on enrollment documents and proof of residency still applies, just later and with help.

Sources and where to verify

Frequently asked questions

We are staying with my parents. Does that count?

If you are sharing their housing because you lost your own or because of economic hardship or a similar reason, yes. The law names that situation first. The district liaison makes the determination, and you do not need a lease or a bill in your name.

Can my child start school tomorrow without any documents?

Yes. The school must enroll your child immediately even without academic records, immunization records, proof of residency or other documentation, and must help you get them afterward.

Do I have to use the word "homeless"?

No. Say what is true: "we are staying with family," "we are in a motel," "we do not have a permanent address." Ask for the residency questionnaire or the liaison. The determination is the liaison's job, not yours.

Can my child stay at the school they were in before we moved?

If it is in the child's best interest, yes, and the district must provide transportation when you ask for it. The law presumes staying is best unless you want otherwise. For a move from another state this usually is not practical, and the local school is the right choice.

What if the school says no?

Ask for the liaison, ask for the refusal in writing, and call ADE's state coordinator at (602) 542-4963 or homeless@azed.gov. Your child must be enrolled while any dispute is resolved.

Does this apply to a charter school?

Yes. Charter schools are public schools and must comply. Arizona's charter enrollment law also lets a charter give enrollment preference to unaccompanied youth covered by this law.

My teenager is on their own. Can they enroll without me?

Yes. Unaccompanied youth are covered, the school must enroll them immediately, and the liaison helps with the rest.

Will my child get free meals?

Ask the liaison. ADE says the liaison helps families covered by the law obtain free meals, along with supplies and transportation.

Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Figures change; the sources above are where to check.