METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity)
The METCO Program is a grant program funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is a voluntary program intended to increase diversity, reduce racial isolation and expand educational opportunities by permitting students in Springfield to attend public schools in suburban communities that have agreed to participate. The participating host communities in the Springfield METCO Program are East Longmeadow, Hampden/Wilbraham, Longmeadow and Southwick-Tolland.
Participants in the METCO program are selected each spring by lottery to fill vacancies declared by the host communities. The timeframe to apply for the lottery for the upcoming academic year is February 1st to April 1st.
You may complete an application online as of February 1st. If you need assistance completing an application or access to a computer to complete the application, you may come to the METCO Office at the Parent Information Center, 22 Mulberry Street, Springfield from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
METCO Application Information: English | Español
McKinney-Vento Department
The McKinney-Vento department works with the families of children in the Springfield Public Schools who are considered homeless.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act of 2002 (known as McKinney-Vento) defines homelessness for schools and the outlines the educational rights of homeless students.
You are considered homeless under McKinney-Vento if you are living in one of the below situations:
- A shelter (including hotels and motels)
- A campground, park, car, or public building,
- Doubled up with friends or relatives due to loss of housing or economic hardship,
- An unaccompanied youth, or
- Awaiting foster care.
Some of the educational rights of homeless students under McKinney-Vento are:
- School selection – students have the right to remain in the last school attended (school of origin) or to enroll locally
- Transportation back to the last school attended (in accordance with the SPS Transportation Policy)
- Immediate enrollment with or without records
- Free lunch (and breakfast if served)
For more information, please refer to the brochure below:
McKinney-Vento Parent Brochure: English | Español
Please contact the McKinney-Vento department with questions or concerns:
Shannon Barry
McKinney-Vento/METCO Administrator
Phone: 413-787-7294 Fax: 413-787-6692
Jennifer Wands
McKinney-Vento/METCO Coordinator
Phone: 413-787-6764 Fax: 413-787-6692
The McKinney-Vento department is located at the Parent Information Center,
in the basement of the Milton Bradley School at:
22 Mulberry Street
Springfield, MA 01105
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