Title IX, Part A: Florida McKinney-Vento Program
The Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act states that children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are considered homeless.
The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth face 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, to enable them to master Florida’s State academic standards. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment..
Under McKinney-Vento, children (PreK-12) have the right to:
- Continue to attend the school they last attended before they lost their housing (school of origin), if that is in the child’s best interest, or the school which is zoned for their temporary residence.
- Enroll and attend classes immediately while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records and other required enrollment documents.
- Receive transportation to the school of origin (if a parent/guardian requests such transportation).
- Participate in any school programs and receive any school services for which they qualify.
Title IX, Part A Resources
Florida McKinney-Vento State Goals
Each School District will:
- Consistently identify at least 5% of their FRL enrollment as homeless in a school year.
- Consistently achieve at least a 90% school attendance rate for students identified as homeless in a school year.
- Consistently promote at least 90% of students identified as homeless in a school year to the next grade at the end of each year.
Florida McKinney-Vento Program Contacts
- Bryce Trafford, Program Director, 850-245-9920
- Lorraine Husum Allen, Senior Program Specialist, 850-245-0723
- Melissa Hyden, Program Assistant, 850-245-0699
- School District Liaisons Contact List (PDF)