FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

AUTHORIZATION:

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Title VII, Subtitle B.

OBJECTIVES:

To ensure that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as other children; to provide activities for and services to ensure that these children enroll in, attend, and achieve success in school; to establish or designate an office in each State educational agency (SEA) for the coordination of education for homeless children and youth; to develop and implement programs for school personnel to heighten awareness of specific problems of homeless children and youth; and to provide grants to local educational agencies (LEAs).

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

SEAs and LEAs may use funds for a wide variety of activities that will facilitate the educational success of homeless children and youth. Such activities include: tutoring summer enrichment programs, the provision of school supplies, and professional development designed to heighten educators' understanding of and sensitivity to the needs of homeless children and youth. When their appropriation exceeds the amount received in fiscal year 1990 the SEAs must make subgrants to LEAs for the purpose of facilitating the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in schools. Services provided with these funds cannot replace the regular academic program and must expand upon or improve services provided as part of the regular academic program. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 76.564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Departments of Education in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Outlying Areas, and schools serving Indian students that are funded by the Secretary of the Interior may apply. Only LEAs are eligible for State subgrants.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Homeless children and youth in elementary and secondary schools (and homeless preschool children and the parents of homeless children) of the applicant agency will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication forms are not required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program.

Application Procedure:   A State that desires to receive a grant under this program may submit to the Department either an individual State plan or a consolidated State plan.

Award Procedure:   Grant awards to the State educational agencies will be issued when applications are approved.

Deadlines:   Deadlines will be published in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Ranges have not been established.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   Biennial updates of State plans are required.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Each State educational agency receives an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount appropriated for this program as the amount allocated under Section 1122 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act bears to the total allocations made under Section 1122. States shall not receive less than $100,000.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Assistance is provided for one fiscal year. Sums appropriated in each fiscal year shall remain available for the succeeding fiscal year.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Beginning October 1, 1997 and every third year after. States must report an estimate of the number of homeless children and youth in the State and the number being served by this program. They must also report on the nature and extent of problems relative to access of homeless children and youth to public preschool, elementary, and secondary schools and the difficulties in identifying the special needs of such children.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   In accordance with Section 443 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act, grantees must maintain records for 3 years.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   91-1000-0-1-501.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $35,000,000; FY 02 est $50,000,000; and FY 03 est $50,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
FY 2016 average State award: $1,310,480.

Grants have been awarded to 50 States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Palau, the Northern Marianas, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Guidance for The Education for Homeless Children and Youth program may be obtained through the office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   John McLaughlin, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: john.mclaughlin@ed.gov Phone: (202) 401-0962.

Web Site Address:  
http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

This is a formula grant program. LEA grants are awarded by States on the basis of need.