What it is?
TITLE IX, PART A: FLORIDA MCKINNEY-VENTO PROGRAM
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.
American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY)
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) was signed into law on March 11, 2021. ARP seeks to deliver direct financial relief to the American people, support the rebuilding of the American economy, ensure the safe reopening of in-person instruction in U.S. public schools, and fund a comprehensive response to the COVID-19 virus.
Title IX, Part A: Florida McKinney-Vento Program (fldoe.org)
Best Practices in Jackson County: “Empathy and Understanding”
PAEC’s McKinney-Vento Program highlights Michael Kilts, Jackson County School District’s Director of Federal Programs, School Improvement, and Food Service.
Mr. Kilts has worked in education for 16 years. He started in the classroom and then in a Department of Juvenile Justice Day Program. At the State Department he started to learn the grants and compliance processes. He transferred his knowledge from the state-level to the district-level. He managed the development, implementation, finance, and evaluation of 28 major federal and state programs and grants. He has presented at several State conferences on grant programs. Mr. Kilts says, “Being an effective McKinney-Vento Program Administrator requires empathy and understanding. I try my best to put myself in the shoes of the family and think of what I would want as support and try my best to provide it. Anyone can become homeless!”
