Tag Archives: Access to Education

Resources

U.S. Department of Education Resources

This guide, published by the Department’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, provides information for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness who are interested in pursuing higher education.  The guide includes information and resources related applying to college, paying for college, and succeeding in college.

This technical assistance product clarifies permissions and restrictions under FERPA for LEAs disclosing aggregate data and individual student information to HUD’s Continuum of Care grantees and organizations operating Homeless Management Information Systems, including spotlights on 3 communities who have partially integrated their data systems.

Reports to Congress

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires the U.S. Department of Education to provide periodic reports to Congress about the implementation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY) grant program.

National Center for Homeless Education

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) is a technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education.  Housed at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NCHE supports the implementation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) grant program by providing technical assistance to EHCY grantees and other stakeholders.  NCHE provides a toll-free helpline, a comprehensive website, virtual and in-person trainings, and informational resources.  NCHE’s website is available at https://nche.ed.gov/.

  • Topical Index of Resources: NCHE provides a comprehensive set of resources related to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness.  Access these resources, organized by topic, at https://nche.ed.gov/topics/.
  • State-level Data & Contact Information: NCHE maintains State-specific webpages to provide an overview of each State’s EHCY program (including performance data and contact information for EHCY State Coordinators).  Learn more about your State’s EHCY program at https://nche.ed.gov/data/.
  • McKinney-Vento Public Awareness Materials: NCHE offers resources (including posters, brochures, and other educational materials) to school districts, community organizations, and other stakeholders designed to educate children and families about their rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  Peruse NCHE’s public awareness materials—some of which are available free of charge—at https://nchehelpline.org/.

Federal Agencies Serving Homeless Children and Youth

This independent Federal agency coordinates across 19 Federal agencies to prevent and end homelessness. Goals include ending unaccompanied youth and family homelessness through coordination across Federal agencies and their State and local grantees and stakeholders.

HHS administers programs that target runaway and homeless youth or prioritize homeless children and adults for services. Several of them use ED’s definition of homelessness and coordinate with State and local educational agencies in serving children, youth and families experiencing homelessness.

HUD administers the Federal government’s largest homeless assistance programs, including the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, with which it collaborates with ED in providing technical assistance to grantees. Searching on HUD’s resource website under both education and the Continuum of Care program should lead you to several products produced or reviewed collaboratively with ED.

National Organizations with Resources on Homeless Children, Youth and Education

  • The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth:  https://naehcy.org/

This membership organization was started in 1988 and now includes many State and local educational agency staff involved in homeless education.

Founded in 2016, SchoolHouse Connection has many resources for improving services and outcomes for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

This organization was started in 1989 and has been active in educational rights litigation and research. Many homeless education resources are on the link provided.

Performance

National Data Summary

This November 2021 report provides a summary of demographic data collected by the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program. The report includes an examination of data collected for the 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20 school years. Information on the number of students experiencing homelessness, their primary nighttime residence, subgroups of students, and race/ethnicity of students experiencing homelessness is included.  To view this report please see Student Homelessness in America: School Years 2017-19 to 2019-20.

Archived editions of this report are available at https://nche.ed.gov/data-and-stats/.

Data Collection Information

To access data collected and published by the Department of Education, please see ED Data Express.

EDFacts File Specifications

The specific file specifications relevant to the collection and submission of homeless student data are FS 118, FS 170 and FS 194. In addition, homeless students are a category set in the following files:  Title I, Part A participation (FS 037), dropout and graduate/completer counts (FS 032 and 040), participation and achievement on State assessments in reading/language arts, mathematics and science (FS 175, 178, 179, 185, 188, 189), graduation rates (FS 150 and 151), and chronic absenteeism (FS 195). To access all file specifications for all EDFacts data files, please see the following page. For more information about the Department’s EDFacts Initiative, which includes data collection for EHCY, please see the following page.

LEA Homeless Student Enrollment Flat and Long Files

Since the 2013-2014 School Year, the Department has released LEA-level homeless student enrollment data with privacy protections applied. The files and documentation are available at the following page.

Monitoring Reports

OESE periodically assesses States’ efforts in implementing Federal grant programs. By completing periodic assessments of SEA grant administration across multiple OESE programs, including EHCY, OESE is able to gather accurate information about States’ compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as information about grant performance. OESE uses this information about State and local needs to provide high-quality, differentiated support to States.

Consolidated monitoring reports, monitoring protocols, and information about the consolidated monitoring process are available on the Office of School Support and Accountability’s (SSA) Performance Reports page. An SEA self-assessment tool and monitoring protocol for the EHCY program and other programs are also available on this . In searching for monitoring reports by State or program going back to 2007, please note that EHCY was included with reports for Title I, Parts A and D until 2014, only Title I, Part D in 2015, and only EHCY from 2016-2019.

Legislation, Regulations and Guidance

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, as amended, Title VII, Subtitle B; 42 U.S.C. 11431-11435

McKinney-Vento, Title VII, Subtitle B

  • Section 1031. SHORT TITLE.
  • Section 1032. EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS.
  • Section 721. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
  • Section 722. GRANTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS.
  • Section 723. LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY SUBGRANTS FOR THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS.
  • Section 724. SECRETARIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
  • Section 725. DEFINITIONS.
  • Section 726. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  • Section 1033. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

 

Regulations

The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly called “Uniform Guidance”) was adopted by the Department  in December 2014, 2 CFR Part 3474, and provides  a government-wide framework for grants management and sets an authoritative set of rules and requirements for Federal awards that synthesizes and supersedes guidance from earlier OMB circulars.   The Uniform  Guidance addresses such issues as addresses time and effort certifications, indirect cost reimbursement, timely obligation of funds and carryover, financial management rules, program income, record retention, property/equipment/supplies inventory controls, procurement, monitoring, conflicts, travel policies, and allowable costs.

The Education Department of General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Parts 75, 76, and 77, are the federal regulations that govern all federal grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.  EDGAR is read in conjunction with the authorizing statutes, program-specific regulations, the Uniform Guidance, and Federal Register documents, such as Notices Inviting Applications and Notices of Final Priorities. 

Guidance

 

Funding Status & Awards

 Funding Status

  Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2021 Fiscal Year 2022
Total Appropriation $101,500,000 $106,500,00 $114,000.00
National Activities $1,496,000 $1,750,000 $1,750,000
Total to Outlying Areas & BIE $1,116,500 $1,171,000 $1,254,000
Total New Awards to States (52 Awards) $98,887,500 $103,578,500 $110,996,000

 

Awards

AWARDS TO STATES Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2021 Fiscal Year 2022
ALABAMA $1,636,580 $1,660,756 $1,782,205
ALASKA $290,704 $300,845 $323,811
ARIZONA $2,091,980 $2,245,219 $2,352,383
ARKANSAS $1,015,036 $1,011,253 $1,115,187
CALIFORNIA $12,204,082 $12,924,738 $13,193,426
COLORADO $944,685 $1,009,125 $1,082,756
CONNECTICUT $896,000 $983,098 $967,892
DELAWARE $332,869 $337,662 $363,424
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA $313,082 $312,419 $391,249
FLORIDA $5,702,319 $5,793,338 $6,545,028
GEORGIA $3,441,819 $3,606,850 $4,228,996
HAWAII $334,148 $367,425 $380,078
IDAHO $356,430 $359,986 $383,051
ILLINOIS $4,095,516 $4,379,854 $4,501,717
INDIANA $1,616,074 $1,532,704 $1,7444,039
IOWA $627,264 $645,907 $697,160
KANSAS $672,709 $695,754 $750,100
KENTUCKY $1,688,526 $1,565,295 $1,751,030
LOUISIANA $2,109,921 $2,295,161 $2,2258,990
MAINE $333,330 $348,220 $379,022
MARYLAND $1,580,787 $1,831,618 $1,897,249
MASSACHUSETTS $1,482,673 $1,625,015 $1,676,113
MICHIGAN $3,012,610 $3,009,305 $3,279,864
MINNESOTA $1,069,511 $1,130,555 $1,104,514
MISSISSIPPI $1,318,266 $1,417,114 $1,478,175
MISSOURI $1,584,472 $1,626,877 $1,690,975
MONTANA $309,596 $324,786 $350,349
NEBRASKA $442,081 $422,733 $447,263
NEVADA $868,537 $955,791 $1,024,606
NEW HAMPSHIRE $284,055 $277,789 $314,787
NEW JERSEY $2,239,747 $2,253,746 $2,693,280
NEW MEXICO $793,182 $828,506 $870,876
NEW YORK $7,282,547 $7,818,293 $8,504,547
NORTH CAROLINA $2,915,982 $3,165,939 $3,410,230
NORTH DAKOTA $253,750 $273,934 $293,219
OHIO $3,621,759 $3,783,577 $3,936,650
OKLAHOMA $1,209,971 $1,269,563 $1,351,799
OREGON $907,854 $891,548 $895,694
PENNSYLVANIA $4,048,513 $4,501,232 $4,400,659
PUERTO RICO $2,402,839 $2,686,605 $3,095,767
RHODE ISLAND $336,224 $353,129 $368,141
SOUTH CAROLINA $1,711,223 $1,655,969 $1,812,574
SOUTH DAKOTA $309,596 $323,401 $349,381
TENNESSEE $2,015,328 $2,027,445 $2,249,310
TEXAS $10,087,967 $10,132,255 $11,550,629
UTAH $498,670 $549,782 $463,651
VERMONT $253,750 $266,250 $285,000
VIRGINIA $1,708,412 $1,860,209 $1,922,466
WASHINGTON $1,500,093 $1,703,746 $1,742,757
WEST VIRGINIA $616,624 $620,617 $691,173
WISCONSIN $1,264,057 $1,349,312 $1,357,758
WYOMING $253,750 $266,250 $285,000

Additional Information

For information about prior year appropriations and allocations to States, please visit these webpages:

 

Eligibility & Grantee Information

Who May Apply: ONLY State Education Agencies (SEAs)

Grantee Information

While only SEAs may apply and directly receive funds from the Department of Education, SEAs are, in turn, required to make formula subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs).

To receive funds under ESEA formula grant programs, States are required, once per Congressional authorization of the statute, to submit program plans. Each program plan must address program requirements specified in the statute.  Section 8303 of the ESEA, however, permits the Department to simplify application requirements and reduce the burden on States by establishing procedures for States to submit a single Consolidated State Plan that addresses multiple programs.

Each State submitted a Consolidated State Plan in 2017 in order to receive funds under nine formula Grant programs, including EHCY.  Copies of all current State plans, as well as information about the State plan process, may be found at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/essa-consolidated-state-plans/.

Distribution of formula grant funds to participating States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico under the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program is proportionate to the distribution of funds under Section 1122 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The minimum grant that may be awarded to a State educational agency (SEA) in any given fiscal year is $150,000. The Bureau of Indian Affairs receives funds under a memorandum of agreement with the Department to serve children and youth experiencing homelessness and, attending schools administered by the Bureau. State educational agency must distribute not less than 75 percent of their allocation in subgrants to local educational agencies. States funded at the minimum level must distribute not less than 50 percent in subgrants to local educational agencies. States may reserve their remaining funds for State-level activities.

Applicant Information

Distribution of formula grant funds to participating States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico under the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program is proportionate to the distribution of funds under Section 1122 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The minimum grant that may be awarded to a State educational agency (SEA) in any given fiscal year is $150,000. The Bureau of Indian Affairs receives funds under a memorandum of agreement with the Department to serve children and youth experiencing homelessness and, attending schools administered by the Bureau. State educational agency must distribute not less than 75 percent of their allocation in subgrants to local educational agencies. States funded at the minimum level must distribute not less than 50 percent in subgrants to local educational agencies. States may reserve their remaining funds for State-level activities.

State applicants must also submit a state plan. See section 722(g) for the state plan’s requirements.

Eligibility Information

The Department is not accepting applications for this program at this time. This page will be updated to with new information for future applicants when funding is made available.

The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) in any State, (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each of the outlying areas) serving homeless children and youth displaced by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, or the 2017 California wildfires for which a major disaster or emergency has been declared under sections 401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 and 5190) (covered disaster or emergency) to address the educational and related needs of these students consistent with section 723 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act) and section 106 of title IV of division B of Public Law 109–148 (the Hurricane Education Recovery Act).

Applicant Information

The Department is not accepting applications for this program at this time. This page will be updated to with new information for future applicants when funding is made available.

2018 Application for the Assistance for Homeless Children and Youth Program

Education for Homeless Children and Youths

Types of Projects

With subgrant funds, LEAs offer such activities as coordination and collaboration with other local agencies to provide comprehensive services to homeless children and youths and their families. LEAs also offer expedited evaluations of the needs of homeless children to help them enroll in school, attend regularly, and achieve success.

 

 

Assistance for Homeless Children and Youth

The Department is not accepting applications for this program at this time. This page will be updated to with new information for future applicants when funding is made available.

The purpose of this program is to award grants to eligible State educational agencies (SEAs) to enable them to provide financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) that serve homeless children and youth displaced by a covered disaster or emergency.  The program helps to address the educational and related needs of these students in a manner consistent with section 723 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act) and with section 106 of Title IV of Division B of Public Law 109-148.