Title X, Part C - Homeless Education National Association for the Education of Homeless
Children & Youth (NAEHCY) Conference.
Phoenix, Arizona November 15-17, 2015
Click HERE to register for this year’s conference!
Purpose of Homeless Grants to LEA's
To provide activities for, and services to, homeless children and youth including preschool-age children that enable these children and youth to enroll, attend, and succeed in school. These services provide before or after school tutoring, supplemental instruction and enriched educational activities. All activities may be provided on school grounds or at other facilities including sectarian property.
Grants for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program are awarded to local educational agencies on a competitive and yearly basis. The funding source of these awards is Title X, of the Elementary and Secondary Education act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
The McKinney-Vento Act defines “homeless children and youth” as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term includes:
Children and youth who are:
- sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as doubled-up);
- living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
- living in emergency or transitional shelters;
- abandoned in hospitals; or
- awaiting foster care placement;
Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.
The McKinney-Vento Act provides certain rights for homeless students. They include waiving certain requirements such as proof of residency when students are enrolling and allowing categorical eligibility for certain services, such as free textbooks. The Act also states:
- Homeless students may attend their school of origin or the school where they are temporarily residing.
- Homeless students must be provided a written statement of their rights when they enroll and at least two times per year.
- Homeless students may enroll without school, medical, or similar records.
- Homeless students have a right to transportation to school.
- Students must be provided a statement explaining why they are denied any service or enrollment.
- Students must receive services, such as transportation, while disputes are being settled.
- Students are automatically eligible for Title I services.
- School districts must reserve a portion of Title IA funds to serve homeless students.
- School districts must review and revise policies that provide barriers to homeless students.
- Schools must post information in the community regarding the rights of homeless students, in schools and other places that homeless families may frequent.
- School districts must identify a McKinney-Vento Liaison to assist students.
Title I and Homelessness
Allowable Services by LEAs Using McKinney Funds
Services may be provided through programs on school grounds or at other facilities; these programs and/or services shall not replace the regular academic program and shall be designed to expand upon or improve services provided as part of the school's regular academic program(s).
- Providing tutoring, supplemental instruction and enriched educational services that are linked to the achievement of academic standards
- Providing evaluation of the strengths and needs of homeless children and youths, including: Educational programs for gifted and talented students; Children with disabilities; Students with limited English proficiency
- Services provided under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or similar State or local programs
- Programs in vocational and technical education and school nutrition programs
- Professional development and other activities for educator and pupil services, including personnel that are designated to heighten the understanding and sensitivity of the needs of homeless children and youths, their rights and specific educational needs
- Providing referral services to homeless children and youths for medical, dental, mental and other health services
- Providing assistance to defray the excess cost of transportation for students, not otherwise provided through federal, state or local funding, to enable the student to attend school
- Providing developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs, not otherwise provided through federal, state or local funding for preschool-aged homeless children
- Providing uniforms, clothes and other personal items that are needed by the child in order for the child to attend school and educational related activities
- Providing services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless children and youths, and unaccompanied youths, in public school programs and services provided to nonhomeless children and youth
- Providing before- and after-school, mentoring, summer programs in which a teacher or other qualified individual provides tutoring, homework assistance and supervision of educational activities
- If necessary, payment of fees and other costs associated with tracking, obtaining, and transferring records necessary to enroll homeless children and youth in school; including birth certificates, immunization or medical records, academic records, guardianship records and evaluations for special preprograms or services
- Providing education and training to the parents of homeless children and youth about the rights of, and resources available to them
- Development of coordination between school and agencies providing services to homeless children and youth
- Providing pupil services, including violence prevention counseling and referral for such services
- Activities to address the particular needs of homeless children and youth that may arise from domestic violence
- The adaptation of space and purchase of supplies for any nonschool facilities made available to provide services
- Providing school supplies, including those supplies to be distributed at shelters or temporary housing facilities or other appropriate locations
- Providing other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless children and youth to attend school
2013-2014 McKinney Vento Homeless Education Grantees
2012-2013 McKinney Vento Homeless Education Grantees
2011-2012 McKinney Vento Homeless Education Grantees
Resources National Center for Homeless Education National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth National Coalition for the Homeless National Network for Youth Horizons for Homeless Children National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP)