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Title X, Part C: Homeless Education Program

Serving Florida’s Children Bridging the Gap between Home and School

Every Child Has a Right to an Education

The Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act states that children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are considered homeless.

If, due to a loss of housing, a child must live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground, on the street, in abandoned buildings, or doubled-up with relatives or friends, then he/she is eligible to receive services provided under the McKinney-Vento Act.

The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this program, state educational agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth.

Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment.

Federal/State Laws and Statutes

Federal Laws/Guidance/Resources Pertaining to the Education of Homeless Children and Youth:

• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, as amended, Title VII, Subtitle B; 42 U.S.C. 11431-11435
• McKinney-Vento Act Non-Regulatory Guidance (July 2004) (Word)
• U.S. Department of Education Enrollment Guidelines (Federal Register: March 8, 2002) (Volume 67, Number 46)
• U.S. Department of Education 2006 Report to Congress (Word)
• Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children Reauthorization Act
• Categorical Eligibility for Free Lunches and Breakfasts of Runaway, Homeless, and Migrant Youth: Reauthorization 2004 Implementation (PDF)
• Updated Guidance for Homeless Children in the School Nutrition Programs (April 4, 2002) (PDF)
• Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (April 2004) (PDF)
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Head Start Act (PDF)
• Head Start Reauthorization
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Child Find (IDEA)
• State of Florida Statutes Pertaining to Education of Homeless Children and Youth:
  • Section 1003.01(12), Florida Statutes - Definitions
  • Section 1003.21(1)(f) and (g), Florida Statutes – School Attendance
  • Section 1003.21(1) and (5)(e), Florida Statutes – School-entry Health Exams and Exemptions

New & Hot Topics

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – Education for Homeless Children and Youth Funding
• 2009-2012 Title X, Part C, Education of Homeless Children and Youth Project Grant: Call for Proposals.
  • Memo (PDF)
  • Request for Proposal (PDF)
  • Frequently Asked Questions (RTF, 309KB)
• Homeless Liaisons Conference Call Schedule (RTF, 44KB)
• No Child Left Behind Monitoring

Publications & Data

• Technical Assistance Paper: 2007-2008 Title X, Part C Education for Homeless Children and Youth (PDF)
• 2004 USED Non-Regulatory Guidance: Homeless Education (PDF)
• 100 Most Frequently Asked Questions on the Education Rights of Children and Youth in Homeless Situations
• Homeless Education Data and Reports
  • Data Elements
    • PreK-12 Homeless Students Nighttime Residence (PDF, 38KB)
    • Unaccompanied Youth (PDF, 28KB)
    • Federal/State Project, Area and Model (PDF, 31KB)
    • Hurricane Affected Students (PDF, 37KB)
      • Causes of Homelessness
  • Homeless Education Trend Data - Coming Soon!
  • Homeless Education Data by School District - Coming Soon!
  • Online Dispute Resolution
  • FDOE Dispute Resolution Process (Word, 192KB)
  • FDOE Tracking System (Note: Access limited to Florida LEA Homeless Education Liaisons only)

Additional Resources

• Florida Office of Homeless
• Florida Coalition for the Homeless
• Florida Supportive Housing Coalition
• Florida Housing Coalition, Inc.
• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
• National Center for Homeless Education
• National Coalition for the Homeless
• National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
• U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development

Contacts

Ms. Lorraine Husum Allen, M.P.A.

School District Homeless Liaisons

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