Federal Programs in Charlotte County

Title X: Part C

Homeless Education Project

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.

The goal of the Charlotte County Public Schools (CCPS) Education Project for Students "in Transition" is to help students in temporary accommodations achieve academic success!

Who is a homeless student?

Homeless students are those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes:

Students living in domestic violence shelters, teen parent shelters or runaway shelters
Students on the street, abandoned buildings or vehicles
Students living in public spaces: woods, parks or tents
Students living in FEMA trailers, campgrounds or substandard housing due to lack of alternative accommodations
Students living in low rent hotels/motels due to lack of alternative accommodations
Students sharing the house, mobile home or apartment of other persons due to lack of alternative accommodations, dwelling eviction or hardship (Doubled-Up)
Students not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, living in unstable or inadequate housing accommodations (Unaccompanied Youth)
Students awaiting foster care placement
Students abandoned in hospitals
Migratory students who qualify as homeless because they are living in the circumstances described above

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